Verbal contract

Verbal contract

A verbal contract is any contract which is expressed in words (written or spoken).

This contrasts with a contract which is implied by actions of the parties. An implied contract can be either implied in fact or implied in law. A contract which is implied in fact is one in which the circumstances imply that parties have reached an agreement even though they have not done so expressly. For example, by going to a doctor for a physical, a patient agrees that he will pay a fair price for the service. If he refuses to pay after being examined, he has breached a contract implied in fact.

"Verbal contract" is a frequently misused expression. It is often used by journalists when they mean to say oral contract. When used in this sense, the term is confusing as well as incorrect, since a written contract is also a verbal one.


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  • verbal contract — contract made orally and not in writing …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Contract — • The canonical and moralist doctrine on this subject is a development of that contained in the Roman civil law. In civil law, a contract is defined as the union of several persons in a coincident expression of will by which their legal relations …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • verbal — verb‧al [ˈvɜːbl ǁ ˈvɜːr ] adjective a verbal contract, agreement etc is one that is spoken rather than written: • The bank manager gave verbal assurances of the security of the investments. * * * verbal UK US /ˈvɜːbəl/ adjective ► spoken rather… …   Financial and business terms

  • Verbal — Ver bal, a. [F., fr. L. verbalis. See {Verb}.] 1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony. [1913 Webster] Made she no verbal question?… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Verbal inspiration — Verbal Ver bal, a. [F., fr. L. verbalis. See {Verb}.] 1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony. [1913 Webster] Made she no verbal… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Verbal noun — Verbal Ver bal, a. [F., fr. L. verbalis. See {Verb}.] 1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony. [1913 Webster] Made she no verbal… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • contract — con·tract 1 / kän ˌtrakt/ n [Latin contractus from contrahere to draw together, enter into (a relationship or agreement), from com with, together + trahere to draw] 1: an agreement between two or more parties that creates in each party a duty to… …   Law dictionary

  • verbal — has four meanings, all close enough to cause possible confusion: (1) ‘having the nature of a verb’ (verbal noun), (2) involving words rather than actual things • (Opposition between these two modes of speaking is rather verbal than real B. Jowett …   Modern English usage

  • verbal — [vʉr′bəl] adj. [LME < MFr < LL verbalis, of a word < verbum: see VERB] 1. of, in, or by means of words [a verbal image] 2. concerned merely with words, as distinguished from facts, ideas, or actions 3. in speech; oral rather than written …   English World dictionary

  • verbal — Strictly, of or pertaining to words; expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, by confusion, spoken; oral. Parol; by word of mouth; as, verbal agreement, verbal evidence; or written, but not signed, or… …   Black's law dictionary

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