Meaning & use
flexible term
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A period of time, such as a contract or course, whose length or dates can be changed to suit those involved.
Grammar: Countable: say 'a flexible term' or 'flexible terms'. It is often used in the plural.
Patterns
- a flexible term
- on flexible terms
- offer flexible terms
- flexible term contract
The university offers a flexible term, so students can finish in one or two years.
We signed a flexible term agreement that lets either side end the deal early.
Parents liked the flexible term dates because holidays could start at different times.
nouncountabletechnical
A word or expression whose meaning depends heavily on context and can shift between situations.
Grammar: Used mainly in linguistics and language teaching, often in the plural: 'flexible terms'.
Patterns
- a flexible term
- use something as a flexible term
'Community' is a flexible term that means different things to different people.
The teacher explained that 'home' is a flexible term in sociolinguistics.
Word forms
| plural | flexible terms |
|---|
Common combinations
- flexible term contract
- She works on a flexible term contract that is renewed each year.
- on flexible terms
- The loan is available on flexible terms for small businesses.
- flexible term dates
- The school published flexible term dates for the coming year.
- offer flexible terms
- The gym offers flexible terms so you can pause your membership.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rolling contract
- A rolling contract renews automatically; a flexible term can also be shortened or lengthened, so it is broader.
- open-ended period
- This suggests no fixed end at all, while a flexible term still has some agreed limits.
Opposites
Word family
- flexibility noun
- The quality of being able to change or be changed easily.
- flexibly adverb
- In a way that can change to suit the situation.
- flexitime noun
- A working system where employees choose their own start and finish times.
Commonly confused: flexible term or fixed term?
flexible term vs fixed term
A fixed term has exact dates that cannot be changed; a flexible term can be adjusted.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'flexible term' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A flexible term is a period of time that can change, so it fits a contract that may be extended. The other options misuse it as a person, a verb or a plant.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “flexible term”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.