Phrase guide

olive branch

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɒlɪv bɹɑːntʃ/
  • General-American: /ˈɑlɪv bɹæntʃ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A branch of an olive tree offered as an emblem of peace.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any symbol of peace, or a peace offering to an adversary to show goodwill and in the hope of securing peace.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • extend an olive branch

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: A branch of an olive tree.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

Alternative form of olive-branch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

something offered to an adversary in the hope of obtaining peace

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: peace offering

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: offer, offering

History

Etymology

The olive branch has been regarded as a symbol of peace since Ancient Greek times. For example, in Virgil’s Aeneid (written between 29 and 19 B.C.E.), Aeneas holds an olive branch and declares that it bears the following message: “The Trojans and their Chief / Bring holy peace; and beg the King’s relief.” The symbolism was strengthened by the reference in Genesis 8:11 of the Bible to Noah sending out a dove from the Ark which returns bearing an olive leaf in its beak, thus showing that the Great Flood is receding.

Across languages

Translations

39 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: غُصْن الزَيْتُون (ḡuṣn az-zaytūn) — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Armenian: ձիթենու ճյուղ (jitʻenu čyuġ) — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Bulgarian: маслинова клонка (maslinova klonka) — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Chinese Mandarin: 橄欖枝 /橄榄枝 (gǎnlǎnzhī) — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Danish: oliegren — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Finnish: oliivinoksa — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • French: branche d'olivier — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Old French: branche d'olive — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Galician: póla de oliveira — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • German: Olivenzweig — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • German: Ölzweig — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Greek: κλαδί ελιάς (kladí eliás) — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Norwegian: olivenkvist — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Norwegian Bokmål: olivengren — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Polish: gałązka oliwna — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Portuguese: ramo de oliveira — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Russian: оли́вковая ве́твь (olívkovaja vétvʹ) — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Swedish: olivkvist — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Turkish: zeytin dalı — branch of an olive tree as an emblem of peace
  • Arabic: غُصْن الزَّيْتُون (ḡuṣn az-zaytūn) — any symbol of peace
  • Armenian: ձիթենու ճյուղ (jitʻenu čyuġ) — any symbol of peace
  • Finnish: oliivinoksa — any symbol of peace
  • Old French: branche d'olive — any symbol of peace
  • Russian: оли́вковая ве́твь (olívkovaja vétvʹ) — any symbol of peace
  • Turkish: zeytin dalı — any symbol of peace
  • Armenian: ձիթենու ճյուղ (jitʻenu čyuġ) — branch of an olive tree
  • Bulgarian: маслинова клонка (maslinova klonka) — branch of an olive tree
  • Chinese Mandarin: 橄欖枝 /橄榄枝 (gǎnlǎnzhī) — branch of an olive tree
  • Finnish: oliivinoksa — branch of an olive tree
  • French: branche d'olivier — branch of an olive tree
  • French: rameau d'olivier — branch of an olive tree
  • French: brin d'olivier — branch of an olive tree
  • Old French: branche d'olive — branch of an olive tree
  • German: Olivenzweig — branch of an olive tree
  • Greek: κλαδί ελιάς (kladí eliás) — branch of an olive tree
  • Japanese: オリーブの枝 — branch of an olive tree
  • Norwegian Bokmål: olivengren — branch of an olive tree
  • Russian: оли́вковая ве́твь (olívkovaja vétvʹ) — branch of an olive tree
  • Turkish: zeytin dalı — branch of an olive tree