signed contract

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A written agreement that has been signed by the people or organizations involved, making it legally binding.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a signed contract' or 'two signed contracts'.

   Patterns

   • a signed contract between A and B
   • sign a signed contract (rare, because it is already signed)
   • have a signed contract

   We finally have a signed contract for the new office space.

   The player refused to train until he had a signed contract in his hand.

   Keep a copy of the signed contract in a safe place.

2. 2nouncountable

   A document that shows someone has officially agreed to do a job or take part in an activity.

   Grammar: Often used in sports and entertainment: 'a signed contract with a club'.

   Patterns

   • a signed contract with a team
   • a signed contract for a film

   The singer showed off her signed contract with the record label.

   Without a signed contract, the deal is not official.

Word forms

Common combinations

a signed contract

She waved the signed contract proudly.

get a signed contract

It took weeks to get a signed contract from the supplier.

a legally binding signed contract

A legally binding signed contract protects both sides.

a signed contract between two parties

The signed contract between the two parties was kept secret.

Synonyms and how they differ

executed contract

This is a formal legal term for a contract that has been fully signed and made valid; it is used in legal writing, not in everyday speech.

agreement

An agreement can be spoken or written and may not be signed; a signed contract is always written and signed.

Word family

sign verb

To write your name on a document to show you agree to it.

signature noun

Your name written by yourself, especially at the end of a document.

Commonly confused: signed contract or contract?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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