# PAX

/ˈpæks/ (US) · /pˈæks/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pax
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a long period of time when there is peace between different countries or groups. It is usually named after the powerful country that keeps the peace.

For teachers: a period of relative stability and international peace overseen by a dominant power. When used in historical contexts, it is typically followed by a Latin name for a nation or region.

## Examples

- The Pax Romana lasted for about two hundred years.
- Historians often discuss whether the current global order can be described as a modern Pax Americana.
- The concept of a Pax Britannica relied heavily on the naval supremacy of the British Empire to maintain open trade routes and suppress regional conflicts throughout the nineteenth century.

## Usage notes

- Typically capitalised and followed by a Latin proper noun (e.g., Pax Romana, Pax Mongolica).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.