Contract
KON-trakt (noun), kuhn-TRAKT (verb)
/ˈkɒntrækt/ (noun), /kənˈtrækt/ (verb)
A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
While often used interchangeably with 'agreement,' a 'contract' specifically implies legal enforceability and usually involves an exchange of value (consideration).
The story behind the word. Our word 'contract' comes from the Latin verb contrahere, which literally meant 'to draw together' or 'to collect.' Imagine two parties pulling their ideas and intentions together to form a single, unified understanding. Over time, this 'drawing together' evolved to mean 'to make a bargain' or 'to enter into an agreement,' especially one that binds people legally. So, when you sign a contract, you're essentially 'drawing together' your promises with another's, creating a legally binding whole.
Word relationships
- Agreement: Broader term; not all agreements are legally binding contracts.
- Covenant: Often implies a more solemn or formal agreement, sometimes religious or historical.
- Pact: A formal agreement between individuals or parties, often implying a truce or alliance.
- Disagreement: Lack of consensus.
- Refusal: Act of declining to enter an agreement.
Commonly confused with
- Agreement: An 'agreement' is a mutual understanding; a 'contract' is a legally enforceable agreement with specific elements like consideration.
Word family
- contractual (adjective): of or relating to a contract
- contractor (noun): a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job
Collocations
- sign a contract
- breach a contract
- enter into a contract
- contract dispute
- employment contract
- service contract
Idioms & expressions
- under contract
- contract out (of something)
Example sentences
- "The two companies signed a new contract for the supply of raw materials, outlining delivery schedules and payment terms." Describing a formal business arrangement.
- "They decided to contract with a local builder for the renovation project after reviewing several bids." Referring to the act of entering into an agreement.
- "A contract is a voluntary arrangement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law as a binding legal agreement." Discussing the legal nature of an agreement.
Memory hook
Think of two people CONnecting and TRAKing (tracking) their promises together to form a legal agreement. CON-TRACK-t: Connecting promises.
When not to use
Do not use 'contract' for informal understandings or casual promises that lack legal intent or consideration.
Fun facts
- The word 'contract' can also mean to shrink or become smaller, as in 'the pupil of the eye contracts in bright light.' This comes from the same Latin root contrahere, meaning 'to draw together' or 'to pull in.'
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.