Meaning & use
letter of intent
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablebusinesslegal
A written statement saying that a person or organization plans to make a deal, buy something or take part in an arrangement, before a final contract exists.
Grammar: Takes an or the: sign a letter of intent.
Patterns
- sign a letter of intent
- a letter of intent to do something
The buyer signed a letter of intent to purchase the company.
Both firms agreed on a letter of intent while lawyers prepared the contract.
nouncountableAmerican
A short document in which a student or athlete states that they plan to join a particular school or team.
Grammar: Often used in American college sports: sign a letter of intent.
Patterns
- sign a letter of intent with something
The quarterback signed a letter of intent with the state university.
Applicants sent a letter of intent to the graduate program.
Word forms
| plural | letters of intent |
|---|
Common combinations
- sign a letter of intent
- They signed a letter of intent last week.
- submit a letter of intent
- Researchers must submit a letter of intent before the full proposal.
- non-binding letter of intent
- It is a non-binding letter of intent.
- draft a letter of intent
- The lawyer will draft a letter of intent.
Synonyms and how they differ
- memorandum of understanding
- Is similar but often describes agreement between organizations or governments.
- term sheet
- Lists key financial terms of a deal, especially investments.
Word family
Commonly confused: letter of intent or contract?
letter of intent vs contract
A contract is final and binding, whereas a letter of intent is usually a preliminary step.
Practice
A buyer wants to show serious interest before a final contract. They should sign a ___.
Choose one answer.
A letter of intent records a plan to deal before a contract. A receipt or warranty serves other purposes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “letter of intent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.