Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Contract definition

What does Contract mean? In legal practice, a contract is the enforceable agreement by which parties set out promises and allocate risk, whether made orally, in writing or by conduct. The law of contract is principally case-law driven across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, with statutory interventions on formalities, construction and consumer protection. In England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, formation generally requires offer, acceptance, consideration and an intention to create legal relations. In Scotland, consideration is not required; a contract is formed by agreement (consensus in idem) with the necessary intention, with writing only needed in defined cases. Key features...

Contract formation: acceptance in England and Wales—words, conduct, silence and informal methods, prescribed modes, unilateral contracts, communication (electronic and postal), continuing negotiations, and retraction

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Practice notes

An Agreement on the terms of a Contractual proposal only crystallises into a binding and enforceable contract once that proposal has been accepted. This Practice Note explores what can amount to contractual acceptance, the ways it may be communicated, and the circumstances in which it can be withdrawn. For guidance on identifying when an offer, capable of acceptance, has been made, see Practice Note: Forming enforceable contracts—offer. Note: Part 36 settlement offers under CPR 36 sit outside the ordinary principles of contract law and are governed by the distinct regime in CPR 36. For guidance on accepting a CPR 36 offer, see Practice Note: Part 36 offers—how and when to accept a Part 36 offer.

What do we mean by an acceptance of an offer?

Acceptance is the final, unconditional manifestation of assent to the terms of a contractual offer. Note: it is not possible to accept an offer that is no longer open to acceptance—for guidance, see Practice Note: Forming enforceable contracts—offer—How do you terminate an offer?

The following will not generally be enough to amount to acceptance:

mere acknowledgement of receipt of the offer
non-specific assent to an offer which contains two alternative...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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