Definition

1. Noun:

   • The activity of maintaining peace, especially by an international military force: "Peacekeeping" refers to the organized efforts, often involving armed forces, to prevent the resumption of fighting between hostile groups or nations and to create conditions for lasting peace.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to or involved in the preservation of peace: When used as an adjective, "peacekeeping" describes forces, missions, operations, or efforts that are dedicated to maintaining or restoring peace in areas of conflict.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The United Nations is heavily involved in peacekeeping around the world.
  • Successful peacekeeping requires cooperation from all conflicting parties.

• Adjective:

  • A multinational peacekeeping force was deployed to the region.
  • The soldiers are on a peacekeeping mission under a UN mandate.

Advanced Usage

• "peacekeeping operation": A specific, organized mission with the goal of maintaining peace.

  • The peacekeeping operation helped stabilize the country after the civil war.

• "to authorize peacekeeping": To give official permission or a mandate for peacekeeping activities.

  • The Security Council voted to authorize peacekeeping in the conflict zone.

Variants and Related Words

• Peacekeeper (n): A soldier or person who is part of a peacekeeping force.

  • The peacekeepers acted as a buffer between the two armies.

• Peacemaking (n): The process of negotiating and establishing peace, often seen as a step that can precede or accompany peacekeeping.

  • Diplomatic peacemaking efforts paved the way for the peacekeeping mission.

Synonyms

• Conflict prevention: Actions taken to stop disputes from escalating into violence.
• Stabilization: The process of making a situation steady and secure.

Related Phrases

• "to deploy peacekeepers": To send peacekeeping forces into an area.

  • The international community agreed to deploy peacekeepers.

• "under a peacekeeping mandate": Operating with the official authority given for peacekeeping purposes.

  • The troops are acting under a peacekeeping mandate from the UN.

Related Idioms

• "To keep the peace": This is the core concept from which "peacekeeping" is derived. It means to maintain order and prevent conflict.
  • The local police work hard to keep the peace in the community.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the preservation of peace between hostile groups by international military forces
   • a peacekeeping force

Noun

1. the activity of keeping the peace by military forces (especially when international military forces enforce a truce between hostile groups or nations)