peacetime

noun

peace·​time ˈpēs-ˌtīm How to pronounce peacetime (audio)
Synonyms of peacetimenext
: a time when a nation is not at war

Examples of peacetime in a Sentence

The size of the army was reduced during peacetime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and its tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas transits in peacetime, have roiled stock markets, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and threatened to raise the cost of many basic goods, including food. Sam Mednick, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026 Gharibabadi said that even in peacetime, vessel movement in the strait would take place under supervision and coordination with Iran and Oman, positioned on either side of the strait. Kevin Collier, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026 The war is roiling oil market Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway leading out of Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported during peacetime, has driven up global oil prices, as have Tehran’s attacks on regional energy infrastructure. Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026 In peacetime, debates on free speech and content moderation are often contentious. Steven Stalinsky, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peacetime

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peacetime was circa 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Peacetime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peacetime. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

peacetime

noun
peace·​time ˈpē-ˌstīm How to pronounce peacetime (audio)
: a time when a nation is not at war

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