Pact has "peace" at its root because a pact often ends a period of unfriendly relations. The word is generally used in the field of international relations, where diplomats may speak of an "arms pact", a "trade pact", or a "fishing-rights pact". But it may also be used for any solemn agreement or promise between two people; after all, whenever two parties shake hands on a deal, they're not about to go to war with each other.
We supported a peace pact between the two countries.
They made a pact to go to the gym together three times a week.
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In August, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual-defense pact with Turkey and nuclear-armed Pakistan.—
Fareed Zakaria,
Washington Post,
23 Oct. 2026 For Netflix, the pact is part of a wider effort to supplement its originals with more licensed programming from outside producers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2026 The fighting now threatens to draw in Turkey and Pakistan to support Saudi Arabia, as the three countries recently signed a mutual security pact known as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.—
Ali Vaez,
Time,
21 Oct. 2026 The kingdom has invoked a mutual defense pact signed last year with Pakistan and Turkey, under which an attack on one country is considered an attack on all three, much like the NATO alliance's Article 5.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pact
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pactum, from neuter of pactus, past participle of pacisci to agree, contract; akin to Old English fōn to seize, Latin pax peace, pangere to fix, fasten, Greek pēgnynai