Meaning & use
pacts
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“pacts” is a form of “pact”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Formal or serious agreements between people, groups or countries to act together or to avoid something.
Grammar: Plural of pact: several pacts, not one pact.
Patterns
- pacts between people
- pacts with someone
The two countries signed several defense pacts in the 1950s.
The friends made pacts to keep in touch after graduation.
Trade pacts can lower prices for shoppers.
Common combinations
- sign pacts
- The leaders met to sign pacts on trade.
- break pacts
- Allies sometimes break pacts when interests change.
- secret pacts
- The rivals were rumored to have made secret pacts.
- non-aggression pacts
- Non-aggression pacts did not prevent war in Europe.
- make pacts with
- He made pacts with several partners to share costs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- treaties
- These are formal written agreements between states, while pacts can be less official.
- agreements
- This is the general word and carries none of the sense of a solemn commitment.
- deals
- This is informal and suggests a bargain, not a binding commitment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: pacts or packs?
pacts vs packs
Packs means bundles or groups of things, not agreements.
Practice
The neighboring countries signed several defense ___ over the decade.
Choose one answer.
Pacts are agreements between countries. Packs, plots and paths do not mean formal agreements.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pacts”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.