invitatio

Invitatio is a Latin noun meaning invitation, summons, or enticement. It is derived from the verb invito, “to invite,” and is a feminine noun of the third declension, with the genitive form invitationis. In classical Latin, invitatio could refer to a formal invitation to attend an event, to participate in a discussion, or to join a feast, and it could also convey a sense of incitement or motivation to act in rhetoric or public life.

In legal terminology, invitatio appears in the phrase invitatio ad offerendum, commonly translated as invitation to treat or invitation to negotiate. This concept designates conduct that invites others to make offers rather than constituting a binding proposal itself. The distinction matters for contract formation: invitations to treat do not bind the inviter to accept any offer. Typical examples include goods displayed for sale, price lists, catalogs, and advertisements. In such cases, a customer’s offer may be accepted or rejected by the seller. Auctions involve a related, more nuanced dynamic, where bids are often treated as offers, and the auctioneer’s acceptance is what creates the contract.

Beyond law, invitatio can appear in liturgical, scholastic, or rhetorical Latin to describe invitations to join a rite, a council, or a debate. In modern usage, the Latin term is mostly encountered in academic discussions of Roman law or historical legal texts, while English generally uses “invitation” or “invitation to treat” for related concepts.

See also: invitation; offer; invitation to treat; Latin legal terms.