What does "stalemate" mean?
The state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves, resulting in a draw.
Stalemate
/ˈsteɪlmeɪt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves, resulting in a draw.
- Grammar: stalemate is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: deadlock, impasse, arrest, bell.
- Useful contrasts: strategic maneuver, accord, advance.
- Usage evidence: The police officer pointed his pistol at the criminal, who, in turn, held his pistol directly pointed at the officer. Neither had the advantage, the position was a stalemate.
How to use "stalemate"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "stalemate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "stalemate" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "stalemate" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves, resulting in a draw. countable, uncountable
"The game is drawn when the player to move has no legal move and his/her king is not in check. The game is said to end in ‘stalemate’. This immediately ends the game, provided that the move producing the stalemate position was in accordance with Article 3 and Articles 4.2 – 4.7."
- 2 drawing position in chess: any of a player's possible moves would place their king in check wordnet
- 3 Any situation that has no obvious possible movement, but involves no personal loss. broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Indian military analysts said the situation was heading into a dangerous stalemate. Neither side wants to start a war. But neither side wants to back down either."
- 4 a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible wordnet
- 5 Any kind of match in which neither contestant laid claim to victory; a draw. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To bring about a state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves. transitive
- 2 subject to a stalemate wordnet
- 3 To bring about a stalemate, in which no advance in an argument is achieved. figuratively, transitive
"The North Korean nuclear issue, stalemated for the past three years, is now back in play again—not before time."
Example
"The police officer pointed his pistol at the criminal, who, in turn, held his pistol directly pointed at the officer. Neither had the advantage, the position was a stalemate."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "stalemate"?
Common synonyms include: deadlock, impasse, arrest, bell, blind alley, block.
How do you use "stalemate" in a sentence?
The police officer pointed his pistol at the criminal, who, in turn, held his pistol directly pointed at the officer. Neither had the advantage, the position was a stalemate.
How do you pronounce "stalemate"?
Pronounced /ˈsteɪlmeɪt/.
Etymology
From stale + mate.