Armistice
n.calm, hopefulformal
What it means
A formal agreement to stop fighting, usually as a step toward peace.
Reach for it when distinguishing a negotiated halt in conflict from a final settlement
The armistice gave both communities time to begin negotiations.
Choose between these
6- everyday
opponents agree to pause conflict in familiar language
not when A truce can be informal and may cover only a brief period.
- professional
ceasefire
fighting stops under agreed terms
not when A ceasefire may be local or temporary and can be less formal than an armistice.
- professional
peace agreement
a settlement resolves the conflict rather than only pausing it
not when Calling an armistice peace overstates what has been achieved.
- professional
stand-down
forces are ordered to stop active operations
not when A stand-down can be unilateral and does not establish mutual agreement.
- formal
cessation
the fact that hostilities stop is the exact point
not when Cessation can happen without any agreement between the parties.
- formal
suspension of hostilities
precise diplomatic wording needs no suggestion of final peace
not when The phrase is cumbersome outside official or historical writing.
Said against
3- hostilities
- warfare
- escalation
It naturally appears in
3- sign an armistice
The delegations met at dawn to sign an armistice.
- armistice agreement
The armistice agreement established a monitored boundary.
- temporary armistice
A temporary armistice allowed civilians to leave safely.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: a formal agreement to cease hostilities opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.