A peacemaker is someone who helps others stop fighting or arguing and find ways to get along. When two friends have a bitter disagreement and won't speak to each other, a peacemaker steps in to help them talk through their hurt feelings and find common ground. A peacemaker doesn't just tell people to stop fighting: they help both sides understand each other and work toward real solutions.

Being a peacemaker takes courage and patience. You have to stay calm when others are upset, listen carefully to both sides, and help each person see the situation from a different perspective. Sometimes peacemakers bring rivals together for difficult conversations. Other times they suggest compromises that both sides can accept.

Throughout history, some people became famous peacemakers by ending wars or resolving major conflicts between nations. But peacemaking happens at every level: in families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. When you help your siblings resolve an argument fairly, or when you bring together classmates who have fallen out, you're being a peacemaker.

The word can also describe someone's general nature. A peacemaker tends to value harmony and cooperation over winning arguments or proving they're right.