Crowds young and old gathered at the War Memorial in Burdon Road to honour those who fought for our freedom.
Maroons were set off in Mowbray Park to mark the beginning of the two-minute silence at 11am.
The explosives were then heard again at 11.02am to bring the observance to an end.
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Representatives from various armed forces were joined by veterans, councillors, members of the public and children.
One of those marking the importance of the day was one of Sunderland’s oldest war veterans, Jack Watson.
The 93-year-old, from Silksworth, served in the 75th Shropshire Yeomanry during the Second World War.
He said: “It’s great to be here, really great.”
Sunderland Mayor Alan Emerson who presided over the service, said afterwards: “I think it’s very emotional – it brings back many thoughts and memories.
“From a personal point of view, I lost a grandfather at the Somme, on day one.
“He was one of the thousands, whose bodies were never found.
“Also in our local village, a family that I know – whose name is on the wall here – Sergeant John Amer, who is a Coldstream guardsman, who was killed in Afghanistan.
“So yes, there are many poignant memories.”
Armistice Day commemorates the symbolic end of the First World War, at 11am on 11 November 1918, with the signing of the agreement between the Allies and Germany, which brought hostilities on the Western Front to an end.
The city’s annual Remembrance Service and Parade will be held in the same location on Sunday.
In Seaham, hundreds turned out to mark the day in a poignant service in the shadow of the town’s Tommy statue.
A sea of red and black pebbles were laid in the shape of a poppy at Tommy’s feet.