treaty

/ˈtridi/

/ˈtriti/

Other forms: treaties

When a war ends, often two countries will sign a treaty, which is a contract where both sides agree to behave a certain way. Treaties are used for many reasons, like creating alliances or preventing nuclear weapons from being built.

The Latin root of treaty is tractare, which means “handle.” When two nations sign a treaty, they decide to handle things according to rules defined in their agreement. However, treaties are not always permanent, and can be broken if one side changes their mind. When white Europeans were settling in the United States, they made many treaties with Native Americans, and every single treaty was eventually broken, some even less than a day later.

Definitions of treaty

1. noun

   a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
   synonyms: accord, pact

   examples:

   North Atlantic Treaty

   the treaty signed in 1949 by 12 countries that established NATO

   SALT I

   the first treaty between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics resulting from the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

   SALT II

   the second treaty between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics resulting from the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

   types:

   alliance

   a formal agreement establishing an association or alliance between nations or other groups to achieve a particular aim

   commercial treaty

   a treaty governing commerce between two or more nations

   pacification, peace, peace treaty

   a treaty to cease hostilities

   convention

   (diplomacy) an international agreement

   type of:

   written agreement

   a legal document summarizing the agreement between parties