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
Visit to walk in the footsteps of French royals in some of the palace’s thousands of rooms before admiring the spectacular Hall of Mirrors, which is the place where the infamous treaty to end World War I was signed.
—
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
At the meeting in Singapore, the Philippines’ president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., warned on Friday that his government could call on support from the United States under a mutual defense treaty in the event that a Chinese vessel caused the death of a Philippine sailor.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 2 June 2024
The treaty has been beset by delay and misinformation.
—Vanessa Kerry, STAT, 31 May 2024
Some 124 countries have signed the Rome statute, a treaty that requires them to turn in individuals with active ICC arrest warrants who set foot on their territory.
—Anna Gordon, TIME, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for treaty 
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
At the meeting in Singapore, the Philippines’ president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., warned on Friday that his government could call on support from the United States under a mutual defense treaty in the event that a Chinese vessel caused the death of a Philippine sailor.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 2 June 2024
The treaty has been beset by delay and misinformation.
—Vanessa Kerry, STAT, 31 May 2024
Some 124 countries have signed the Rome statute, a treaty that requires them to turn in individuals with active ICC arrest warrants who set foot on their territory.
—Anna Gordon, TIME, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for treaty
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'treaty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Treaty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treaty. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
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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