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Definition of treaty
treaty
/ˈtriː.ti/
trea · ty
Plural:treaties
treaty Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
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• noun
1
A formally concluded and ratified agreement between sovereign states or international organizations.
Example
"The two nations signed a historic peace treaty to end the decades-long border conflict."
2
The physical document in which a formal international agreement is set down and signed.
Example
"The original treaty is preserved under climate-controlled glass at the national archives."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for treatyWord Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably with 'pact' or 'accord', a 'treaty' specifically implies a formally concluded and legally binding agreement recognized under international law.
• Rhymes for treaty
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'tretee', borrowed from Old French 'traite', which derived from Latin 'tractatus' meaning 'handling, treatment, or discussion'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Treaty. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/treaty