agreement

noun

agree·​ment ə-ˈgrē-mənt How to pronounce agreement (audio)
1
a
: harmony of opinion, action, or character : concord
There is widespread agreement on this issue.
b
: the act or fact of agreeing
She nodded her head in agreement.
2
a
: an arrangement as to a course of action
reached an agreement as to how to achieve their goal
b
: compact, treaty
a trade agreement
3
a
: a contract duly executed (see execute sense transitive 2) and legally binding
b
: the language or instrument (see instrument entry 1 sense 5) embodying such a contract

Examples of agreement in a Sentence

Any changes to the plan require the agreement of everyone involved. There is wide agreement on this issue. They have been unable to reach agreement about how to achieve reform. I thought we had an agreement. Their agreement expires next year. He has to return the property under the terms of an agreement he has with the original owner. He signed an agreement to buy the property.
Recent Examples on the Web Early agreement termination fee applies ($20/mo.) & add’l fee(s) may apply if equipment not returned. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 If there is no agreement, sell the home on the open market. Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The agreement also won’t fully end Allen’s legal woes. Bill Donahue, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 Hamas also insisted any agreement should end the war. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 The three-judge panel upheld a lower court's ruling dismissing the lawsuit, saying Burchard had been warned about how to carefully maneuver the hills and had signed a golf cart rental agreement that acknowledged potential dangers and waived all liability for the owners of the resort. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 In 2017, not long before Mullen launched his idea, city officials, civic leaders and homeless service providers were closing in on an agreement for an ambitious homeless facility for thousands of people at a municipal maintenance yard at the south end of Balboa Park. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 With Friday’s settlement agreement, N.A.R. gave up the fight. Debra Kamin, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Bus service remains suspended Wednesday for the 13th consecutive day as workers vote on the agreement, according to officials at the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, which represents more than 600 bus drivers and mechanics. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'agreement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English agrement, borrowed from Anglo-French agreement, agrément, from agreer "to please, consent, agree" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler
The first known use of agreement was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near agreement

Cite this Entry

“Agreement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agreement. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

agreement

noun
agree·​ment ə-ˈgrē-mənt How to pronounce agreement (audio)
1
a
: the act of agreeing
b
: harmony of opinion, action, or character : concord
all are in agreement
2
a
: an arrangement or understanding (as a contract or treaty) about action to be taken
b
: a written record of such an agreement
3
: the fact of agreeing grammatically

Legal Definition

agreement

noun
agree·​ment
1
a
: the act or fact of agreeing
by mutual agreement
b
: unity of opinion, understanding, or intent
especially : the mutual assent of contracting parties to the same terms
if they reach agreement

Note: Under common law, agreement is a necessary element of a valid contract. Under Uniform Commercial Code section 1-201(3), agreement is the bargain of the contracting parties as represented explicitly by their language or implicitly by other circumstances (as a course of dealing).

2
a
: an expression (as a settlement, covenant, or contract) of the intent or willingness of two or more parties to bind at least one to terms usually determined by negotiation
an agreement must be sufficiently definite before a court can enforce itJ. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo
b
: the language or instrument embodying such an expression

More from Merriam-Webster on agreement

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