suicide pact: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowformal
Quick answer
What does “suicide pact” mean?
An agreement between two or more people to commit suicide together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An agreement between two or more people to commit suicide together.
Sometimes used figuratively to describe a mutually destructive agreement or course of action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Both carry serious and somber connotations, related to death and despair.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, primarily used in news, academic, or legal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “suicide pact” in a Sentence
agree to a suicide pactbe involved in a suicide pactcarry out a suicide pactVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “suicide pact” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They entered into a suicide pact after long deliberation.
American English
- They made a suicide pact when all hope was lost.
adverb
British English
- They acted suicidally in line with their pact.
American English
- In a pact-like manner, they proceeded with their decision.
adjective
British English
- The suicide-pact arrangement was detailed in their notes.
American English
- Their suicide-pact plan was discovered by authorities.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might appear in metaphorical discussions about risky corporate strategies.
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and ethics studies on group behavior and suicide.
Everyday
Occasionally in news reports or dramatic narratives.
Technical
In legal or medical contexts, referring to specific cases or forensic analyses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “suicide pact”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “suicide pact”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “suicide pact”
- Using 'suicide pack' instead of 'suicide pact'.
- Incorrect pluralization as 'suicides pacts' instead of 'suicide pacts'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, suicide pacts are generally illegal and may be considered as assisted suicide or conspiracy in many jurisdictions.
Yes, individuals can choose to back out or seek help to prevent the pact from being carried out, often through intervention or counseling.
They often stem from shared despair, mental health issues, isolation, or extreme life circumstances that lead to a collective decision.
Suicide pacts have been recorded in various cultures and historical periods, often in contexts of war, persecution, or personal tragedy.
An agreement between two or more people to commit suicide together.
Suicide pact is usually formal in register.
Suicide pact: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsuː.ɪ.saɪd pækt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsuː.ə.saɪd pækt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'pact' as a promise, and 'suicide' as self-destruction; together, a promise to destroy oneself with others.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS A BOND TO DEATH, emphasizing the irrevocable and tragic nature.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'suicide pact' mean?