What does accord mean?
Accord denotes agreement, harmony, or formal concurrence between people, groups, or nations. As a noun, it most commonly names a negotiated settlement — a peace accord, a trade accord — but it also describes quieter forms of alignment, as when actions are "in accord with" stated principles or something happens "of its own accord," meaning spontaneously. As a verb, accord means to grant or confer something such as respect, status, or a privilege, usually in formal contexts: a guest may be "accorded every courtesy." The word carries a distinctly formal, dignified tone, making it a staple of diplomacy, law, and serious journalism rather than casual conversation. Its roots lie in the Latin cor, meaning heart, shared with words like concord and cordial, which gives it a pleasing resonance: agreement of hearts. Knowing accord enriches both reading of international news and precise, polished writing.
A formal agreement or treaty between parties, or more generally a state of agreement and harmony.
"The ceasefire accord was hailed as a breakthrough after years of hostilities."
Often used in compounds such as "peace accord" or "trade accord."
To grant or bestow a status, right, honour, or treatment; also, to be consistent or in agreement with something.
"The visiting delegation was accorded full diplomatic privileges."
Frequently used in the passive voice; the consistency sense often appears as "his account accords with the evidence."
The plural typically refers to multiple formal agreements or treaties, though it is less common than the singular in everyday use.
"The two governments have signed several bilateral accords over the past decade."
When you do something "of your own accord," you're using a phrase that traces back to Latin cor — the heart: acting from your own heart's prompting, with no one pushing you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of accord
Accord comes from the Old French acorder, meaning "to reconcile" or "be in agreement," which derives from the Vulgar Latin *accordare, built on Latin cor (heart) via ad- (to) plus cord-. The underlying idea is literally a "coming together of hearts." It entered English in the Middle English period, and its relatives include concord, cordial, and courage — all descendants of the same Latin root for heart.
Word family
Usage notes
"Accord" carries a formal register and is most at home in diplomatic, legal, and journalistic writing. The noun sense of general harmony often appears in fixed phrases such as "in accord with," while the verb is typically used passively or with an indirect object ("he was accorded every courtesy"). The phrase "of its own accord" means spontaneously or without external cause.
Don't confuse with
"Accord" means agreement or the granting of something, while "a cord" is a thin length of rope or flexible material — they differ only by one letter in sound-adjacent spelling contexts.
"Acord" is not a standard English word; it appears only as an archaic or misspelled form of "accord."