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Like many terms used in the legal profession, stipulate has its roots in Latin. It derives from stipulatus, the past participle of stipulari, a verb meaning "to demand a guarantee (from a prospective debtor)." Stipulate has been a part of the English language since the 17th century. In Roman law, oral contracts were deemed valid only if they followed a proper question-and-answer format; stipulate was sometimes used specifically of this same process of contract making, though it also could be used more generally for any means of making a contract or agreement. The "to specify as a condition or requirement" meaning of stipulate also dates to the 17th century, and is the sense of the word most often encountered in current use.
Synonyms
Examples of stipulate in a Sentence
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
In June, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 29 Oct. 2024
The state law stipulates that physicians found to violate SB 14 can be stripped of their medical licenses.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 17 Oct. 2024
This is due to campaign finance law stipulating all the works from the artists and all the payments from the buyers are considered campaign donations.
—Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Stipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stipulate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
stipulate
verb
Louisiana Civil CodeNational Law JournalLuna v. Meinke, 844 F. Supp. 1284 (1994)West v. Bank of Commerce & Trusts, 167 F.2d 664 (1948)National Law JournalVerb
Latin stipulatus, past participle of stipulari to exact (as from a prospective debtor) a formal guarantee when making an oral contract
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