stipulate

1 of 2

verb

stip·​u·​late ˈsti-pyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce stipulate (audio)
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 noun

stipulate

2 of 2

adjective

stip·​u·​late ˈsti-pyə-lət How to pronounce stipulate (audio)
: having stipules

Did you know?

Like many terms used in the legal profession, stipulate, an English word since the 17th century, has its roots in Latin. It comes from stipulatus, the past participle of stipulari, a verb meaning “to demand a guarantee (from a prospective debtor).” 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 today.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The order—which U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued at a hearing—stipulated that construction workers at the detention center will be prohibited from adding new filling, paving or infrastructure for the next two weeks. Yezen Saadah, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 The new law appears to stipulate that the maximum annual deduction for tip income is $25,000 per tax return — not $25,000 for each employee listed on a joint return, according to how O'Saben and Luscombe read the tax bill. Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Government officials are also subject to the Open Door Law, which stipulates transparency conditions for public meetings. Cate Charron, IndyStar, 5 Aug. 2025 The contract stipulates that if the Parks Department pays to upgrade the 50-acre equestrian center, the A3 payment requirement increases from $250,000 to $300,000 per year. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stipulate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of stipulate was circa 1624

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Cite this Entry

“Stipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stipulate. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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 How to pronounce stipulate (audio)
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 kindsLouisiana Civil Code
3
: to agree respecting an aspect of legal proceedings
used with to
stipulated to a dismissal of the claim with prejudiceNational Law Journal
pleaded guilty to the charge of battery and stipulated to the underlying factsLuna 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 ordinancesWest 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 convictionNational 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

More from Merriam-Webster on stipulate

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