Meaning & use
sign and seal
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiomformallegal
to put your name on a document and add an official mark that shows it is genuine and approved.
Grammar: Used as a fixed verb phrase; the two actions are treated as one formal step, and an object usually follows: sign and seal the agreement.
Patterns
- sign and seal something
- something is signed and sealed
- sign and seal an agreement
Both sides agreed to sign and seal the contract before the end of the month.
The treaty was signed and sealed in a quiet ceremony at the palace.
Once you sign and seal the deed, the property officially changes hands.
phraseidiomfigurativeformal
to make an agreement or promise final and impossible to change.
Grammar: Often used figuratively about decisions or promises rather than paper documents; the image is of a deal that cannot be undone.
Patterns
- sign and seal a deal
- sign and seal someone's fate
- signed and sealed
The two companies signed and sealed the deal over lunch.
That single mistake signed and sealed his fate as team captain.
Their friendship was signed and sealed by years of shared hardship.
Common combinations
- sign and seal a contract
- The buyers will sign and seal the contract at the lawyer's office.
- signed and sealed
- The agreement is signed and sealed, so no further changes are possible.
- sign and seal a deal
- They shook hands and then signed and seal the deal in front of witnesses.
- sign and seal an oath
- New officers must sign and seal an oath of loyalty.
- formally sign and seal
- The document was formally signed and sealed by the minister.
Synonyms and how they differ
- execute
- In legal English, execute means to complete a document by signing it; it is more technical and does not always include a seal.
- ratify
- Ratify means to give official approval to an agreement, often by a vote or signature; it focuses on approval rather than the physical act of sealing.
- finalize
- Finalize is a general word for making something complete; it can be used for plans and arrangements, not just documents.
Word family
Commonly confused: sign and seal or sign, seal, and deliver?
sign and seal vs sign, seal, and deliver
This longer phrase adds the step of handing over the document; sign and seal only covers signing and marking it as official.
Practice
The parties agreed to _____ the agreement before the deadline.
Choose one answer.
After 'agreed to', we need the base form of the verb phrase, so 'sign and seal' is correct. 'Signed and sealed' is the past form and cannot follow 'to' here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sign and seal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.