contractual

adjective

con·​trac·​tu·​al kən-ˈtrak-chə-wəl 

-chəl, 

-shwəl, 

-chü-əl

: of, relating to, or constituting a contract

contractually adverb

Examples of contractual in a Sentence

They had to fulfill their contractual obligations before they could get paid.

Recent Examples on the Web

The agreement followed a dispute that began after the software company submitted two invoices before meeting contractual requirements and RT paid them. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Short contractual duration matches the time required to execute a renovation plan, and repayment comes through a property sale or an investment-property refinance after stabilization, not through a bet on market appreciation. — Wesley Carpenter, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The school board voted Tuesday to terminate Hill for convenience, a contractual designation that entitles her to severance. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026

Banks support off-balance sheet arrangements, such as special purpose vehicles, between private creditors and hyperscalers, which is raising concerns about systemic stability, especially in light of contractual activations. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin contractuālis, from Latin contractu-, stem of contractus contract entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contractual

• factual
• tactual
• artifactual
• counterfactual

Kids Definition

contractual

adjective

con·​trac·​tu·​al kən-ˈtrak-chə(-wə)l 

kän-, 

-ˈtraksh-wəl

: of, relating to, or being a contract

contractual agreements

contractually

-ē

adverb

Legal Definition

contractual

adjective

con·​trac·​tu·​al kən-ˈtrak-chə-wəl 

: of, relating to, or constituting a contract

a contractual agreement

contractually adverb