treat ‧ y W2 /ˈtriːti/ BrE AmE noun ( plural treaties )
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: traité , from Latin tractatus ; ⇨ ↑ tract ]
[countable] a formal written agreement between two or more countries or governments:
Both sides have agreed to sign the treaty.
The peace treaty ends nearly four years of violence.
treaty on
a treaty on political union
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ sign a treaty
India refused to sign the treaty.
▪ conclude a treaty formal (=successfully finish arranging it)
In 1875 Japan and Russia concluded a treaty.
▪ negotiate a treaty (=discuss the conditions of a treaty with other people in order to reach an agreement)
He was instructed to negotiate a treaty with Siam.
▪ ratify a treaty (=make it official by signing it or accepting it)
The Government cannot ratify the treaty without Parliament’s consent.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + treaty
▪ a peace treaty
Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel.
▪ a draft treaty (=one that has been written but not yet signed)
The committee produced a draft treaty on arms limitation.
▪ an extradition treaty (=one which says that people can be brought back to a country for trial)
The United States has had an extradition treaty with Mexico since 1978.
▪ an international treaty
The US refused to sign any international treaty on cutting carbon emissions.
▪ a bilateral treaty (=one signed by two countries)
Uzbekistan and Russia signed a bilateral treaty of friendship.
▪ the Versailles/Maastricht etc treaty (=a treaty signed in a particular city)
Britain’s ratification of the Maastricht treaty looked set for further delay.
■ phrases
▪ the terms/provisions of a treaty
Under the terms of the treaty, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire.
▪ the treaty of Versailles/Rome etc (=a treaty signed in a particular city)
Restrictive trading agreements are prohibited by the Treaty of Rome.