Stipulate

Stipulate is a transitive verb meaning to demand or specify as a condition of an agreement. In legal and business contexts, parties stipulate terms such as payment deadlines, performance standards, or remedies for breach. The contract stipulates that payments must be made within 30 days, and that confidentiality obligations apply for the duration of the agreement.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin stipulari, via Old French stipuler, with the sense of demanding or promising obligations. In modern English it is formal and most common in legal drafting, though it can appear in general writing to denote formal specification. It is typically followed by a that-clause or by a direct object describing the condition, for example, “the contract stipulates a minimum delivery date.”

Related forms and nuance: The noun stipulation refers to a specified condition or requirement contained in an agreement. A stipulator can be a party who stipulates or, in some contexts, an instrument that records a stipulation. The adjective stipulatory exists but is rare. Stipulate is often used where a precise, enforceable condition is intended, and it is sometimes contrasted with more general terms like require or specify in less formal language.

Examples: The lease stipulates that subletting is prohibited. The contract stipulates that any dispute will be resolved by arbitration. The parties stipulated that the notice period would be extended to thirty days.