accord

accord — noun

1. an official deal worked out and signed by governments, organizations, or other l

1.nounC1
Definition

an official deal worked out and signed by governments, organizations, or other large groups, usually about peace, trade, or shared rules.

Example

The two governments signed a peace accord on Friday in Geneva.

collocation: sign + peace accord

Trade ministers from twelve countries reached an accord on tariffs.

reach an accord on [topic]

Common collocations
  • peace accord
  • trade accord
  • sign an accord
  • reach an accord
  • climate accord
Synonyms
  • treaty

    specifically between countries; legally binding

  • pact

    shorter, often used in journalism for any signed deal

  • agreement

    broader and less formal; covers private deals too

Grammar Patterns

accord between [parties]

sign/reach an accord

Usage Note

Subject is usually a country, government, alliance, or large organization, not an individual. Frequently capitalized when part of a named treaty (the Helsinki Accord).

Common Mistakes

My friend and I made an accord to study together.
My friend and I made an agreement to study together.
for everyday personal deals, use 'agreement' or 'pact'; 'accord' implies formal, large-scale parties.

2. a state in which two or more facts, opinions, or accounts line up cleanly with e

2.nounC2
Definition

a state in which two or more facts, opinions, or accounts line up cleanly with each other and do not clash — for example, when a witness's statement matches a video, or when several reports tell the same story.

Example

Dr. Wei's conclusions are in accord with the findings of three earlier studies.

in accord with + [evidence/conclusion]

The two designers worked in perfect accord on the museum project.

in [adjective] accord

Common collocations
  • in accord with
  • in perfect accord
  • in complete accord
Synonyms
  • harmony

    more common in everyday writing; same idea

  • agreement

    broader; can also mean a signed deal

  • consistency

    stresses logical match between statements or data

Antonyms
  • discord

    direct opposite; clash or disagreement

  • conflict

    stronger; suggests active opposition

Grammar Patterns

in accord with [something]

be in accord

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in (perfect/complete/full) accord with'. Distinguish from sense 1 (a signed document): this sense is uncountable and abstract — you cannot 'sign' or 'reach' this kind of accord.

Common Mistakes

They have an accord on the new plan.
They are in accord on the new plan.
for the harmony sense, use 'in accord', not 'have an accord'.

3. used in the phrase 'of one's own accord' to say that someone acted because they

3.nounC2
Definition

used in the phrase 'of one's own accord' to say that someone acted because they wanted to, not because anyone told them or pushed them.

Example

Sven apologized of her own accord, before her teacher even mentioned it.

of one's own accord — without prompting

The cat came back home of its own accord after three days outside.

of its own accord (animal/object subject)

Common collocations
  • of his own accord
  • of her own accord
  • of their own accord
  • of its own accord
Synonyms
  • voluntarily

    single adverb; less idiomatic, more neutral

  • willingly

    stresses being happy to do it, not just unforced

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

of one's own accord

Usage Note

Only used in the fixed phrase 'of (one's) own accord' — the possessive must match the subject (his / her / their / its / my / our / your). Often contrasted with situations where someone was asked, pushed, or forced.

Common Mistakes

She left of her own accord will.
She left of her own accord.
do not add 'will'; the phrase is complete on its own.
He came back on his own accord.
He came back of his own accord.
the preposition is 'of', not 'on'.

4. used in the phrase 'with one accord' to say that a group of people did the same

4.nounC2
Definition

used in the phrase 'with one accord' to say that a group of people did the same thing at the same moment because they all felt the same way.

Example

With one accord, the audience rose to applaud the young pianist.

with one accord — group acts together

The villagers, with one accord, agreed to rebuild the school.

with one accord (as a parenthetical)

Common collocations
  • with one accord
Synonyms
  • unanimously

    more common; usually about voting or decisions

  • as one

    vivid and short; same idea of a group acting together

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

with one accord

Usage Note

Literary or formal in tone; common in religious texts, news reporting, and speeches but rare in casual conversation. Distinguish from sense 3 (one person acting alone of their own accord): this sense always describes a group acting together.

Common Mistakes

They all agreed in one accord.
They all agreed with one accord.
the preposition is 'with', not 'in'.
Idioms

of your own accord

idiom

Doing something because you want to, not because someone told you to.

Mia left the party of her own accord.

The cat returned home of its own accord.

with one accord

idiom

Everyone doing the same thing at the same time because they all agree.

The crowd rose with one accord to applaud.

With one accord, the committee voted to approve.

accord — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words name a deal between two or more parties, but the formality and scope differ. 'Treaty' is the most legally weighty: it almost always means a binding document between sovereign states, often ratified by parliaments. 'Accord' is also formal and usually international, but it can cover broader, less strictly legal arrangements — peace accords, climate accords, trade accords. 'Pact' is shorter and more dramatic, common in newspaper headlines (a 'security pact', a 'non-aggression pact'); it can also be used playfully between friends. 'Agreement' is the everyday umbrella word: it covers everything from a private rental contract to a major international deal, with no formality built in. Compare: 'Japan and the EU signed a trade agreement' (neutral), 'a trade accord' (formal, news register), 'a trade treaty' (stresses legal force).

accord ↗treaty ↗pactagreement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in accord with
  • of one's own accord
  • with one accord
  • reach an accord
  • sign an accord

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

Accord came into English in the 1100s from Old French 'acorder', meaning to bring people to agreement. The Old French word grew out of Latin 'ad-' (to) plus 'cor' or 'cordis' (heart) — so the original image is of two hearts brought together. The 'document' meaning of the noun developed later, as written treaties became the standard way to record formal agreement between rulers.