Stalemate

Definitions

1. The state in which the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves, resulting in a draw.
   countable, uncountable
2. Any situation that has no obvious possible movement, but involves no personal loss.
   broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable
3. Any kind of match in which neither contestant laid claim to victory; a draw.
   countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“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.”

CEFR level