plural contracts
1
a
: a legal agreement between people, companies, etc.
The contract requires him to finish work by the end of the year.
If he breaks the contract [=if he does not abide by the agreement], he will get sued.
The company won a multi-million-dollar contract to build a new courthouse. = The company was awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to build a new courthouse.
a marriage contract [=an agreement to marry someone]
—often used before another nouncontract negotiations
contract law
b
: a document on which the words of a contract are written
I tore up the contract.
Have you signed the contract yet?
2
informal
: an agreement to kill a person for money
His enemies put/took out a contract on him. [=paid someone to kill him]
contracts; contracted; contracting
1
a
: to make (something) smaller or shorter
She contracted her lips into a frown.
contract a muscle
b
: to become smaller
The muscle expands and then contracts.
The hot metal contracted as it cooled.
2
somewhat formal
: to become ill with (a disease)
He contracted [=(more commonly) caught] a cold.
She contracted chicken pox.
They contracted malaria.
3
: to make an agreement by contract to work or to pay someone to work
The carpenter contracted (with them) to do the work on their house.
We contracted [=hired] a lawyer.
4
ˈkɑːnˌtrækt
formal
: to agree to (a marriage, an alliance, etc.) formally
a legally contracted marriage
The company contracted an alliance with a former competitor.
Cite this Entry
“Contract.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/contract. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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