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

The stalemate comes as some California jurisdictions are bracing for Trump’s promise on deportations and adopting policies designed to protect immigrant communities. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

The top option on the board seems to be Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger, but the Yankees have reportedly run into a stalemate in those negotiations. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Verb

Since about 2018, the conflict had been largely stalemated, and Syria has been a unified state in name only. —Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024

Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011, had largely stalemated by 2020. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 Dec. 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