nonbinding

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparablelegal

   Not legally or officially required; having no power to force someone to do something.

   Grammar: Not used with 'more' or 'most'; something is either binding or nonbinding.

   Patterns

   • a nonbinding agreement
   • a nonbinding vote
   • be nonbinding on someone

   The two countries signed a nonbinding agreement to reduce emissions.

   The committee's decision is nonbinding and does not change the law.

2. 2adjectivenot comparablelegal

   Not creating a legal obligation; used to describe promises or resolutions that are voluntary.

   Grammar: Common in legal and political writing to distinguish from 'binding' contracts.

   Patterns

   • a nonbinding resolution
   • a nonbinding promise
   • treat something as nonbinding

   The UN resolution was nonbinding, but it carried moral weight.

   They made a nonbinding pledge to donate money.

Common combinations

nonbinding agreement

The nonbinding agreement was seen as a first step.

nonbinding vote

The parliament held a nonbinding vote on the issue.

nonbinding resolution

The council passed a nonbinding resolution.

legally nonbinding

The document is legally nonbinding.

Synonyms and how they differ

voluntary

Voluntary means done by choice; nonbinding means there is no legal force, even if you agreed to it.

advisory

Advisory means giving advice; nonbinding means it does not create a legal duty.

Opposites

Word family

binding adjective

Having legal force; must be obeyed.

bind verb

To make someone legally obliged.

Commonly confused: nonbinding or binding?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “nonbinding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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