stalemate

1 of 2

noun

stale·​mate ˈstāl-ˌmāt 

1

: a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play

2

: a drawn contest : deadlock

also : the state of being stalemated

stalemate

2 of 2

verb

stalemated; stalemating; stalemates

transitive verb

: to bring into a stalemate

Synonyms

Noun

• deadlock
• gridlock
• halt
• impasse
• logjam
• Mexican standoff
• standoff
• standstill

Examples of stalemate in a Sentence

Noun

The budget debate ended in a stalemate.

The new agreement could break the stalemate.

The budget debate ended in stalemate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With talks at a stalemate since June, industry officials now believe a strike is inevitable, and ocean carriers and port operators have started sending out customer advisories and making contingency plans. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024

The Security Council, the UN’s most powerful organ, has been dominated by just five veto-wielding countries (the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom) since its inception and has increasingly found itself at a stalemate. —Richard Roth, CNN, 21 Sep. 2024

Verb

See The Masked Singer season 12's first performance, new costumes, and Ken Jeong losing his mind 06 of 06 Chess Piece Will the celebrity under this mask have the audience screaming checkmate or stalemate? —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2024

And to a growing number of critics, Israel appears to be simply stuck in clearing mode, increasing the risks for Israeli soldiers and Gazan civilians while cease-fire talks remain stalemated. —Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

obsolete English stale stalemate (from Middle English, from Anglo-French estaler to stalemate, from estal station, position) + English mate entry 1 — more at installment entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1765, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stalemate

1 of 2 noun

stale·​mate ˈstā(ə)l-ˌmāt 

1

: a position in chess that results in a draw when the only piece to be moved is the king which cannot be moved without being exposed to attack by the other player's piece

2

: a drawn or undecided contest : deadlock

the two sides reached a stalemate in their negotiations

stalemate

2 of 2 verb

stalemated; stalemating

: to bring into a stalemate

the talks were stalemated over the issue of payment