Implied Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose

In one sentence

A guarantee that goods will work for a specific purpose the buyer told the seller about.

Plain English

This warranty kicks in when you tell a merchant that you need something for a specific job and rely on the merchant's skill to pick the right item. The merchant then implicitly promises that what they sell you will actually do that job. For example, if you tell a paint store clerk you need paint for a bathroom and they recommend a specific brand, they're implying that paint will work in a humid bathroom. If it peels off in a month, they've broken this warranty.

Ad slot

Example

You tell a sporting goods salesperson you need a tent for camping in cold mountain weather, and they recommend a specific model. If that tent fails in cold conditions, the seller has breached the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.

Used in a sentence

“The implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose applies when a seller knows the buyer's specific needs.”

Related terms

Article 2

The section of the UCC that governs the sale of goods between merchants and non-merchants.

Merchant

A person or business that regularly buys and sells goods of a particular kind.

Goods

Tangible, movable items that can be bought, sold, or leased under the UCC.

Implied Warranty of Merchantability

An automatic guarantee that goods sold by a merchant are fit for their ordinary purpose.

Disclaimer of Warranties

A statement that removes or limits the automatic guarantees a seller would otherwise provide.

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.