plural treaties
1
a
: an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation:
(1)
: a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (such as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state
(2)
b
: a document in which such a contract is set down
2
: the action of treating and especially of negotiating
Examples of treaty in a Sentence
a nuclear test ban treaty
in accordance with a treaty between the United States and the tribes of the Pacific Northwest, commercial fishing of certain kinds of salmon is limited to Native Americans
Recent Examples on the Web
Egypt considered Israel to have breached the limits of military presence near areas demilitarized under the treaty, raising tensions.
—
John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
The goal is to comply with the climate initiates of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed in 2015 to prevent climate change.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
After the French effort failed, the U.S. government signed a treaty with newly independent Panama in 1903 to take over the project.
—Karina Garcia, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Defending this decision, the U.S. State Department accused Mexico of failing to uphold commitments to Texas included in a 1944 water-sharing treaty.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treaty
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
The goal is to comply with the climate initiates of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed in 2015 to prevent climate change.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
After the French effort failed, the U.S. government signed a treaty with newly independent Panama in 1903 to take over the project.
—Karina Garcia, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Defending this decision, the U.S. State Department accused Mexico of failing to uphold commitments to Texas included in a 1944 water-sharing treaty.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treaty
Cite this Entry
“Treaty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treaty. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treaty
noun
trea·ty
ˈtrēt-ē 
plural treaties
: an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation
especially
: one between two or more states or rulers
Legal Definition
treaty
noun
trea·ty
plural treaties
1
: the action of treating and especially of negotiating
2
: an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation: as
a
b
: a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state
the President…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties—U.S. Constitution art. II
compare executive agreement
U.S. Constitution art. II3
: a document embodying a negotiated agreement or contract
4
: an agreement or contract (as between companies) providing for treaty reinsurance
Etymology
Anglo-French treté, from Middle French traité, from Medieval Latin tractatus, from Latin, handling, treatment, from tractare to treat, handle
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