concord

concord — noun

1. a condition in which people, groups, or nations get along peacefully and feel th

1.nounB2
Definition

a condition in which people, groups, or nations get along peacefully and feel the same way about important matters.

Example

The two leaders signed an agreement to bring long-term concord to the region.

bring concord to [region/area]

After years of disagreement, the village finally found concord with its neighbours.

Common collocations
  • live in concord (with)
  • bring concord to
  • period of concord
  • social concord
  • political concord
  • in concord with
Synonyms
  • harmony

    more general; can apply to music, colours, and personal relationships as well as groups

  • accord

    often refers to a formal agreement or treaty, whereas 'concord' is the resulting state

  • unity

    stronger emphasis on acting as one body; 'concord' allows for differences as long as there is goodwill

Antonyms
  • discord

    the direct opposite; conflict or disagreement

  • strife

    more intense and active conflict, often involving fighting

Usage Note

Frequently used in formal or political contexts. More abstract than 'peace' — it emphasises shared feelings or goals, not just the absence of conflict.

Common Mistakes

The two countries signed a concord last year.
The two countries signed an accord last year.
'concord' describes a state of harmony, not the document or treaty itself.

2. a grammar rule that forces linked elements — like a subject and its verb — to ta

2.nounC1
Definition

a grammar rule that forces linked elements — like a subject and its verb — to take matching forms for number, person, or gender.

Example

In English, a singular subject needs a singular verb to show correct concord.

subject-verb concord pattern

The grammar book explained the basic rules of subject-verb concord clearly.

Common collocations
  • subject-verb concord
  • concord in number
  • rules of concord
  • show concord with
  • lack of concord
Synonyms
  • agreement

    the everyday term for the same concept; 'concord' is more technical and less common

  • congruence

    used occasionally in formal linguistics; broader than just inflectional matching

Grammar Patterns

subject-verb concord

concord in number/gender/person

Usage Note

This term is mainly used in linguistics and language teaching. In everyday grammar explanations, 'agreement' is far more common than 'concord'.

Common Mistakes

In English, adjectives must show concord with the noun they describe.
In English, verbs show concord with their subject.
English adjectives do not change form for gender or number, so concord does not apply to them.

3. a city in the northeastern United States that serves as the capital of New Hamps

3.nounB1
Definition

a city in the northeastern United States that serves as the capital of New Hampshire.

Example

Concord is the capital of New Hampshire, a state in the northeast.

Jenna took a train from Boston to Concord for a weekend trip.

travel: take [transport] to [place]

4. any of several cities and towns in the United States named Concord, including lo

4.nounB1
Definition

any of several cities and towns in the United States named Concord, including locations in California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

Example

Zola's family moved to Concord, California, for better job opportunities.

move to [city], [state] — US place-name pattern

Concord, Massachusetts, was the site of a famous battle in the year 1775.

Usage Note

Concord, New Hampshire (the state capital) is covered in the previous sense. This sense covers the other US towns and cities that share the same name.

Word family

  • concordant
    adjectiveC1
  • concordance
    nounC1
  • discord
    nounB2
  • discordant
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Harmony, accord, unity, and agreement all relate to peaceful cooperation, but they differ in scope and emphasis. Harmony is the broadest term — it can describe music, colours, flavours, or relationships, and often implies a pleasing blend of different elements. Accord is more formal and frequently refers to a signed treaty or document, though it can also describe a state of matching opinions. Unity emphasises acting or feeling as one body; it carries a stronger sense of togetherness than concord, which allows for differences as long as goodwill exists. Agreement is the most common, everyday word and can be used about small personal decisions or large international deals. For example: 'The choir sang in perfect harmony' would not work with concord; 'The two sides reached an accord on trade' highlights the document; 'A sense of national unity grew after the disaster' stresses oneness; while 'Concord between the neighbours was restored after the apology' emphasises mutual goodwill despite ongoing differences.

harmony ↗accord ↗unity ↗agreement ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Concord comes from the Latin word concordia, which is made of two parts: con- meaning 'together' and cor, cord- meaning 'heart'. So the original picture is of two hearts beating as one — a powerful metaphor for agreement and shared feeling. The word travelled into English through Old French concorde during the 1300s. The sense of grammatical matching developed much later, in the 1500s, as language scholars needed a term for words 'agreeing' with each other in a sentence. The place-name sense comes from the same idea — early settlers named their towns Concord to express hope for peaceful community life.