North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Syllabification: (North At·lan·tic Trea·ty Or·gan·i·za·tion)
(abbreviation: NATO)
Definition of North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- an association of European and North American countries, formed in 1949 for the defense of Europe and the North Atlantic against the perceived threat of Soviet aggression. By 2005, the alliance consisted of 26 countries, including several eastern European nations. NATO’s purpose is to safeguard member countries by political and military means.