noun

stalemate

STAYL-mayt

noun

In chess, a position where the player to move has no legal move and is not in check, ending the game as a draw.

"She accidentally forced a stalemate when she should have gone for checkmate."

Any deadlocked situation where neither side can make progress.

"Talks between the two countries reached a stalemate over trade tariffs."

"The union and management were stuck in a stalemate for weeks."

verb

To bring a situation, argument, or game to a deadlock.

"Their refusal to compromise stalemated the entire negotiation."

How to Use Stalemate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA standstill where nobody can move forward, whether in chess or in any dispute.

Common pairings

reach a stalemate end in stalemate break the stalemate

stalemated past tense, stalemates plural, stalemates singular

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She accidentally forced a _____ when she should have gone for checkmate.

Formed from "stale" (in an old sense meaning a fixed position) plus "mate," as in checkmate.

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