Terms and Conditions

In one sentence

The specific rules and requirements that govern a contract or agreement.

Plain English

Terms and conditions are the detailed rules of a contract—what each party must do, when they must do it, how much they must pay, and what happens if someone fails. They cover everything from payment deadlines to warranties to what happens in a dispute. When you buy something online or sign up for a service, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions, even if you do not read them all.

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Example

An online retailer's terms and conditions state that returns must be made within 30 days, items must be unused, and the customer pays for return shipping. By placing an order, you agree to these terms.

Used in a sentence

“The terms and conditions of the service agreement prohibited commercial use of the platform.”

Related terms

Entire Agreement

A clause stating that the written contract contains the complete and final agreement between the parties.

Exclusivity Clause

A contract provision requiring one or both parties to deal exclusively with each other and not with competitors.

Contractual Limitations Period

A deadline for filing a lawsuit that the parties themselves agree to in their contract, often shorter than the legal statute of limitations.

Governing Law

The state or jurisdiction whose laws will interpret and enforce a contract.

Acceptance

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

Offer

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

Consideration

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

Offeror

The person who makes an offer to enter into a 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.