pact

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈpækt/ 🇺🇸 /ˈpækt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A formal agreement or treaty between two or more parties, especially nations or organizations, to cooperate or resolve a dispute.; A binding agreement or compact between individuals or groups, often implying a solemn or serious commitment.; A bargain or deal with the devil or a supernatural entity, in which a person exchanges their soul or moral integrity for power, knowledge, or other benefits.; An agreement between political parties or factions to support each other or not to oppose one another, especially during elections.; A mutual agreement between individuals to commit a joint act, especially a suicide pact.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: pacts

Collocations

peace pactsuicide pactnon-aggression pactsign a pactmake a pacttrade pact

Derivatives

paction

Synonyms

agreementtreatyaccordcompactcovenantdeal

Commonly confused

compact
EN: 'Compact' can mean a formal agreement (synonym of 'pact') but also means small and densely packed; 'pact' only refers to an agreement.
pack
EN: 'Pack' refers to a group or bundle of things; 'pact' refers to a formal agreement between parties.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'pact' (an agreement) with 'packed' (filled tightly) or 'pack' (a bundle or group).

💬 Examples

  1. The two countries signed a non-aggression pact to ensure lasting peace in the region.

  2. The friends made a pact to meet every year on the anniversary of their graduation.

  3. According to legend, Faust made a pact with the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures.

  4. The opposition parties formed an electoral pact to avoid splitting the vote against the ruling party.

  5. The police investigated the case as a possible suicide pact between the two lovers.