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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.
Examples of stipulate in a Sentence
Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
If one day — or even one task — is missed, the 75 Hard challenge stipulates that the tally of days starts back at zero.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 July 2025
His deal stipulates that the CBF gets 20% of his earnings.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
The law, set to take effect July 8, stipulates that retailers that have used algorithmic pricing, which the state defines as prices set by an algorithm that has ingested and uses individual consumer data, will need to disclose that to New York consumers.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stipulate
Cite this Entry
“Stipulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stipulate. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
stipulate
verb
Louisiana Civil CodeNational Law JournalLuna v. Meinke, 844 F. Supp. 1284 (1994)West v. Bank of Commerce & Trusts, 167 F.2d 664 (1948)National Law JournalVerb
Latin stipulatus, past participle of stipulari to exact (as from a prospective debtor) a formal guarantee when making an oral contract
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