délai

Délai is a French noun that denotes a period of time prescribed or allowed for performing an action. It can refer to a deadline, a time limit, or, more generally, the span within which something must be done. The word also appears in phrases describing delays or lags, but in typical legal or administrative usage it emphasizes the prescribed duration rather than the lateness itself.

In practice, délai is used in legal, contractual, and administrative contexts to establish when obligations must be fulfilled. A délai peut être fixed by law, contract, or agreement, and failing to meet it can trigger consequences such as penalties, the loss of a right, or a claim being barred. The concept contrasts with retard or lateness, since délai focuses on the allotted timeframe rather than the act of being late.

Common types include délai légal (the legal deadline), délai contractuel (the contractual deadline), and délai de paiement (payment terms). Other variants address delivery or processing times, such as délai de livraison or délai de traitement. There are also specialized terms like délai de prescription (statutory period for bringing a claim) and délai de grâce (grace period), which temporarily extends the time available under certain conditions.

Counting and calculation rules for délai vary by jurisdiction and context. It may start from a specified event, such as notification or receipt, and may count calendar days or only business days (jours ouvrés). Some deadlines exclude weekends and holidays, while others include them. Understanding the applicable délai is essential for fulfilling obligations and assessing rights within French-speaking legal and administrative environments.