stipulate

1 of 2

verb

stip·​u·​late ˈsti-pyə-ˌlāt 

stipulated; stipulating

intransitive verb

1

: to make an agreement or covenant to do or forbear something : contract

2

: to demand an express term in an agreement

—used with for

transitive verb

1

: to specify as a condition or requirement (as of an agreement or offer)

2

: to give a guarantee of

stipulator

ˈsti-pyə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

stipulate

2 of 2

adjective

stip·​u·​late ˈsti-pyə-lət 

: having stipules

Did you know?

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

Verb

• call (for)
• claim
• clamor (for)
• command
• demand
• enjoin
• exact
• insist (on)
• press (for)
• quest

Examples of stipulate in a Sentence

Verb

The ceasefire was stipulated by the treaty.

The rules stipulate that players must wear uniforms.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Body camera footage has to be retained in criminal investigations, the FWC’s own policy stipulates. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025

The contract further stipulates that Keller will face an annual performance review by July 1. Board Trustee William Reilly praised Keller’s leadership. —Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

Utah law stipulates that any state or government building can be fined $500 a day for flying any flags that are not the U.S. flag, the state flag, a city or county flag, military flags, Olympic and Paralympic flags, official college flags or tribal flags. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

The Guardian notes that laws in England and Wales stipulate that a person’s spouse, and then their children, have first claim to the estate if there is no will. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin stipulatus, past participle of stipulari to demand a guarantee (from a prospective debtor)

Adjective

New Latin stipula

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1624, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

circa 1776, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stipulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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Kids Definition

stipulate

verb

stip·​u·​late

ˈstip-yə-ˌlāt

stipulated; stipulating

: to demand or insist on as part of an agreement

Legal Definition

stipulate

verb

stip·​u·​late ˈsti-pyə-ˌlāt 

stipulated; stipulating

intransitive verb

1

: to make an agreement or covenant about something (as damages)

2

: to demand a particular promise in an agreement

—used with for

may…assume or stipulate for obligations of all kinds

—Louisiana Civil Code

3

: to agree respecting an aspect of legal proceedings

—used with to

stipulated to a dismissal of the claim with prejudice

—National Law Journal

pleaded guilty to the charge of battery and stipulated to the underlying facts

—Luna v. Meinke, 844 F. Supp. 1284 (1994)

transitive verb

1

: to specify especially as a condition or requirement of an agreement

parties may not stipulate the invalidity of statutes or ordinances

—West v. Bank of Commerce & Trusts, 167 F.2d 664 (1948)

the contract stipulated that the lessor was responsible for maintenance

within a stipulated period of time

2

: to establish (procedure or evidence) by agreement during a proceeding

defendant stipulated that evidence was sufficient to support his conspiracy conviction

—National Law Journal

based on stipulated facts

Etymology

Verb

Latin stipulatus, past participle of stipulari to exact (as from a prospective debtor) a formal guarantee when making an oral contract