stipulate

verb

stip·u·late | \ ˈsti-pyə-ˌlāt

stipulated; stipulating

Definition of stipulate

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

stipulate

adjective

stip·u·late | \ ˈsti-pyə-lət

Definition of stipulate (Entry 2 of 2)

: having stipules

Other Words from stipulate Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about stipulate

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Did You Know?

Verb

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 (as 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 process of contract making, though it also could be used more generally for any means of making a contract or agreement. The "specify as a condition or requirement" sense of the word also dates from the 17th century, and it is the sense that is most often encountered in current use.

Examples of stipulate in a Sentence

Verb

The cease-fire was stipulated by the treaty. The rules stipulate that players must wear uniforms.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

According to USA Today, the USOC’s bylaws stipulate that a three-person hearing will be held to decide the fate of USAG. — Jessica Taylor Price, Teen Vogue, "U.S. Olympics Committee Moves to Decertify USA Gymnastics," 6 Nov. 2018 The Hall’s bylaws stipulate that candidacy is based on what happens on the field, which is why Owens was voted in. — Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, "Pro Football Hall of Fame selector: Terrell Owens' bush league snub further clouds legacy," 8 June 2018 The most troubling, unshakeable memory was a condition Cunningham had stipulated when offering Tann the Boba Fett prototype. — Alexander Huls, Popular Mechanics, "The Great Star Wars Heist," 7 Mar. 2019 Culberson has stipulated in his budget bills that the Clipper must launch on NASA's Space Launch System rocket, which remains under development and is unlikely to fly for the first time before 2020 or 2021. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "A congressman’s loss clouds the future of two demanding missions to Europa," 3 Dec. 2018 The draft accord also stipulated that parties involved should start discussing a number of issues, including whether Renault and Nissan shares were undervalued, the person said. — Nick Kostov, WSJ, "Nissan Enlisted Japanese Government to Fend Off Renault Merger," 15 Feb. 2019 Those changes require a greater percentage of components in a vehicle to originate in North America, and stipulate nearly half of the auto content must be produced by workers earning at least $16 an hour. — Paul Vieira, WSJ, "U.S., Canada Launch Talks Amid Pressure to Rewrite Nafta," 29 Aug. 2018 Before the introduction of the Limited Warranty in 1975, Good Housekeeping did not stipulate a time frame for consumers to file a complaint about a defective product. — Good Housekeeping, "The History of the Good Housekeeping Seal," 1 Oct. 2011 Known as speedrunners, these savant players compete in a variety of different formats that stipulate the rules for their play through. — Patricia Hernandez, The Verge, "Watching a Breath of the Wild speedrunner collect Koroks is mesmerizing," 15 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stipulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near stipulate

stipulative definition

stipule

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Last Updated

7 Apr 2019

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The first known use of stipulate was circa 1624

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More Definitions for stipulate

stipulate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of stipulate

: to demand or require (something) as part of an agreement

See the full definition for stipulate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

stipulate

verb

stip·u·late | \ ˈsti-pyə-ˌlāt

stipulated; stipulating

Legal Definition of stipulate

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