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Definition of contract noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

contract

noun
 
/ˈkɒntrækt/
 
/ˈkɑːntrækt/
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  1. an official written agreement
    • All employees have a written contract of employment.
    • a research/modelling/recording contract
    • a lucrative government contract
    • contract with somebody to enter into/negotiate/sign a contract with the supplier
    • contract between A and B These clauses form part of the contract between buyer and seller.
    • contract for something a contract for the supply of vehicles
    • contract to do something to win/be awarded a contract to build a new school
    • to renew/extend/terminate/cancel a contract
    • on a contract I was on a three-year contract that expired last week.
    • under contract to/with somebody/something She is under contract to (= has a contract to work for) a major American computer firm.
    • out of contract The phone costs several hundred dollars more out of contract (= without a contract with a phone company).
    • The midfielder will be out of contract at the end of the season (= his contract with his club will have finished).
    • a contract worker (= one employed on a contract for a fixed period of time)
    • Under the terms of the contract the job should have been finished yesterday.
    • They were sued for breach of contract (= not doing what they agreed to do in a contract).
    • He had a release clause written into his contract.
    • subject to contract The offer has been accepted, subject to contract (= the agreement is not official until the contract is signed).
    see also social contract
    Extra Examples
    • By using cheaper materials, the company has broken the terms of its contract.
    • Do you have a contract with your employer?
    • Eighteen companies are bidding for the contract.
    • Either party can terminate the contract at any time.
    • He entered into a contract with his former employer.
    • She's on a three-year fixed-term contract.
    • If you go on strike you will be in breach of contract.
    • Many workers do not have written contracts.
    • My advertising firm just won a lucrative contract with a major tech company.
    • She managed to negotiate a permanent contract with the company.
    • The company is being sued for breach of contract.
    • The contract expires at the end of next year.
    • The contract was declared void.
    • The firm lost the contract to a large London company.
    • The successful bidder must exchange contracts immediately and pay a deposit.
    • They put a clause in the contract stipulating that the work should be finished by next month.
    • They won a contract for the delivery of five fighter planes.
    • Under her contract of employment, Mrs Lee could not be required to work at a different site.
    • You should make sure that you have a formal contract of employment.
    • a series of major contracts worth millions of pounds
    • the company fulfilling the construction contract
    • the contract between the employer and the employee
    • the firm carrying out the construction contract
    • The company is currently negotiating a contract to build a new hotel development.
    Topics Discussion and agreementb2, Working lifeb2, Law and justiceb2, Houses and homesb2, Businessb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • long-term
    • permanent
    • guaranteed
    verb + contract
    • have
    • bid for
    • bid on
    contract + verb
    • expire
    • be worth something
    contract + noun
    • work
    • worker
    • manufacturer
    preposition
    • in a/​the contract
    • on a contract
    • under contract (to)
    phrases
    • (a) breach of contract
    • a contract of employment
    • a contract of sale
    See full entry
  2. contract (on somebody) (informal) an agreement to kill somebody for money
    • She took out a contract on her ex-husband.
    • He has a contract out on you.
    Topics Discussion and agreementc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + contract
    • take out
    • have out
    contract + noun
    • killer
    • killing
    preposition
    • contract on
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin contractus, from contract- ‘drawn together, tightened’, from the verb contrahere, from con- ‘together’ + trahere ‘draw’.
See contract in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee contract in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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