An armistice is an official agreement to stop fighting in a war. It’s like pressing a “pause” button on the battlefield so both sides can talk peace or reorganize without shooting.
In everyday life, people don’t sign armistices, but the word still pops up. You’ll hear it on history podcasts about World War I or see it in news headlines when two countries agree to stop hostilities. It’s also used in a playful way—friends joking about calling an “armistice” after a heated argument, meaning they both cool off and move on.
Meaning & Usage Examples
• “The 1918 armistice ended World War I at 11 a.m. on November 11.”
• “After weeks of trading insults, the rival teams declared an armistice and shook hands.”
Is an armistice the same as a peace treaty?
No. An armistice is just a ceasefire; a peace treaty is the formal end of the war.
Do armistices always hold?
Not always. If talks break down, fighting can restart, as happened in Korea in 1953.
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