Breach of Contract

In one sentence

Failure to do what a contract requires, without a valid legal excuse.

Plain English

When someone doesn't do what they promised in a contract, that's a breach. It might be failing to pay, not delivering goods, doing poor work, or breaking any other promise. A breach can be partial (doing some of it badly) or total (not doing it at all). The injured party can sue for damages (money) or ask a court to force the other side to perform.

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Example

A painter agrees to paint a house for $5,000 by June 1st. On June 1st, the painter hasn't shown up and won't return calls. That's a breach of contract. The homeowner can sue the painter for the cost of hiring someone else to finish the job.

Used in a sentence

“The vendor's failure to deliver the equipment on time constituted a material breach of the supply contract.”

Related terms

Material Breach

A significant failure to perform a contract obligation that defeats its core purpose.

Anticipatory Breach

A party's clear statement or action showing they won't perform their contract duties before the due date.

Actual Breach

Failure to perform a contract duty on or after the date performance is due.

Mitigation of Damages

A duty to take reasonable steps to minimize losses caused by another party's breach.

Rescission

Unwinding a contract entirely, returning both parties to their positions before the deal.

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.

Consideration

Something of value exchanged by each party to make a contract binding.

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.