Amendment

From the Latin Latin: amendare, meaning 'to make better' or 'to correct.'.

In one sentence

A formal, written change to a contract or legal document.

Plain English

An amendment is an official change to a contract or agreement, usually written and signed by both parties. It's more formal than a casual modification and often involves rewriting a whole section or adding new terms. Amendments are common when parties want to update a long-standing agreement or fix a mistake in the original language.

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Example

A 10-year commercial lease is amended in year five to allow the tenant to renew for another five years at a new rental rate. The landlord and tenant both sign the amendment, which becomes part of the original lease.

Used in a sentence

“The partnership agreement was amended to add a new member and adjust the profit-sharing percentages.”

Related terms

Modification

A change to a contract made by the parties after it's already in effect.

Material Alteration

A significant change to a contract or document that affects its meaning or enforceability.

Contract Interpretation

The process of determining what a contract's words and terms actually mean.

Executed Contract

A contract where both parties have fully performed all their obligations.

amended complaint

A revised version of a criminal or civil complaint filed to correct or add charges.

Course of Performance

How the parties have actually carried out the contract in practice, which can clarify ambiguous terms.

Offer

A proposal to enter into a binding agreement on specific terms.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.