ceasefire

noun

cease·​fire ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r 

variants or less commonly cease-fire

plural ceasefires also cease-fires

1

: a military order to cease firing

2

: a suspension of active hostilities

Synonyms of ceasefire

• truce
• accord
• armistice

Examples of ceasefire in a Sentence

the two armies declared a ceasefire for the holiday

Recent Examples on the Web

Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,467 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire was reached with Hamas nearly a year ago, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which doesn't give a breakdown of civilians and militants. — Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026

But after the first ceasefire collapsed in December 2023, the Israeli military launched a major ground offensive in Khan Younis, and the military soon lost track of the hostages. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Deadly Israeli strikes continue despite a fragile ceasefire that has largely held for nearly a year. — Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

The escalation has revived Yemen’s civil war after a four-year ceasefire. — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ceasefire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer
• misfire

Kids Definition

cease-fire

noun

ˈsēs-ˈfī(ə)r

: a temporary stopping of warfare