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Meaning & use

formal agreement

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌfɔː.məl əˈɡriː.mənt/
US/ˌfɔːr.məl əˈɡriː.mənt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    An official written or legally binding arrangement between two or more parties.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a formal agreement' or 'several formal agreements'.

    Patterns

    • a formal agreement between someone and someone
    • reach a formal agreement
    • sign a formal agreement
    • formal agreement on something

    After months of talks, the two companies finally signed a formal agreement.

    There is no formal agreement between the countries about sharing the river water.

    The union reached a formal agreement with management on working hours.

  2. nouncountable

    An official acceptance or arrangement to do something, often in business or politics.

    Grammar: Often used with verbs like 'have', 'make' or 'enter into'.

    Patterns

    • have a formal agreement with someone
    • enter into a formal agreement
    • make a formal agreement

    We have a formal agreement with the supplier to deliver every Monday.

    The two universities entered into a formal agreement to share research facilities.

    They made a formal agreement that neither side would build near the border.

Word forms

pluralformal agreements

Common combinations

sign a formal agreement
Both sides will sign a formal agreement next week.
reach a formal agreement
The negotiators reached a formal agreement after long talks.
a formal agreement between
There is a formal agreement between the two airlines.
enter into a formal agreement
The charity entered into a formal agreement with the local council.

Synonyms and how they differ

contract
A contract is a specific type of formal agreement that is legally enforceable; use 'contract' when the legal aspect is central.
treaty
A treaty is a formal agreement between countries, so it is narrower and more official than 'formal agreement'.
deal
Deal is informal and can be spoken or unwritten; use 'formal agreement' when you need to stress that it is official and written.

Opposites

informal arrangement

Word family

agreement noun
A general word for any arrangement or acceptance between people.
formally adverb
In an official or serious way.

Commonly confused: formal agreement or formal contract?

formal agreement vs formal contract

A formal contract is a specific legal document; a formal agreement can be any official arrangement, not always legally binding.

Practice

The two governments ______ a formal agreement on trade last month.

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