What does ceasefire mean?
A ceasefire is a suspension of fighting between opposing forces, typically agreed upon by the parties to a conflict. The word combines 'cease,' meaning to stop, with 'fire,' referring to the discharge of weapons, so it literally means stopping the shooting. Ceasefires may be temporary or indefinite, formal or informal, and they often serve as a preliminary step toward broader negotiations or a permanent peace settlement. In everyday usage the term appears most frequently in news coverage of wars and armed disputes: governments declare ceasefires, mediators broker them, and combatants may honor or violate them. While closely related to words like truce and armistice, a ceasefire tends to emphasize the immediate halting of hostilities rather than a comprehensive legal agreement ending a war. Its connotation is generally hopeful but provisional — a ceasefire signals relief from violence without guaranteeing lasting resolution.
nounA temporary suspension of fighting, typically agreed between warring parties, during which hostilities are formally halted.
- A temporary or permanent halt in fighting between armed forces, usually by mutual agreement.
"The two nations agreed to a ceasefire after weeks of intense border clashes."
"Mediators brokered a fragile ceasefire that took effect at dawn."
"Both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire within hours of it being signed."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple separate agreements or instances of halted fighting.
"Several ceasefires were attempted before a lasting peace was reached."
Despite meaning 'stop firing,' the word itself was born on the battlefield — first recorded in the early 20th century during the First World War.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ceasefire
Ceasefire is a compound of two native English words: 'cease,' from Old French 'cesser' and ultimately Latin 'cessare' (to stop), and 'fire,' from Old English 'fȳr.' The compound emerged in English in the late 19th or early 20th century, becoming widespread during the First World War as military and diplomatic vocabulary expanded. It shares its Latin root 'cedere/cessare' with related words like cessation and ceaseless.
How ceasefire is actually used
Register is neutral to formal; the word is standard in news reporting and diplomatic contexts. It implies a pause rather than necessarily a lasting peace — an armistice or peace treaty is more durable.
Easily confused with ceasefire
A ceasefire specifically suspends armed conflict, while cessation refers to the general act of stopping any activity or process.