peace for our time

noun

Used to imply that the appeasement of an aggressor will not prevent further aggression in the future.

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Meanings

nounpeace for our time (uncountable)

alternative peace in our time

  1. sarcasticuncountableUsed to imply that the appeasement of an aggressor will not prevent further aggression in the future.
  2. sarcasticuncountableUsed to evoke the idea of false political promises and false expectations.

Origin

From a speech by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938, in which he stated that "peace for our time" would be the result of the Munich Agreement of 1938, intending to allay growing concerns that Nazi Germany posed a risk of starting another major European war. Invoked sarcastically, due to the outbreak of World War 2 only one year later.

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Cite this entry
APA

peace for our time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peace%20for%20our%20time

MLA

“peace for our time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peace%20for%20our%20time. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “peace for our time,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peace%20for%20our%20time.

Source: peace for our time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.