Word of the Day

: September 1, 2007

stipulate

verb STIP-yuh-layt

What It Means

1 : to make an agreement to do something : contract

2 : to specify (something) as a condition or requirement (as of an agreement or offer)

stipulate in Context

The lease stipulates that the tenant's failure to pay rent by the end of the month may result in eviction.

Did You Know?

Like many terms used in the legal profession, "stipulate" has its roots in Latin. It derives from "stipulatus," the past participle of "stipulari," a verb meaning "to demand a guarantee (as from a prospective debtor)." "Stipulate" has been a part of the English language since the 17th century. In Roman law, oral contracts were deemed valid only if they followed a proper question-and-answer format; "stipulate" was sometimes used specifically of this process of contract making, though it also could be used more generally for any means of making a contract or agreement. The "specify as a condition or requirement" sense of the word also dates from the 17th century, and it is the sense that is most often encountered in current use.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.