Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

NEC definition

What does NEC mean? NEC (formerly “New Engineering contract”) describes the widely used suite of standard-form construction and engineering contracts published by the Institution of Civil Engineers. It is not defined in legislation; the term is a descriptive label for these standard forms. The current edition is NEC4 (first issued 2017 and periodically updated). NEC3 remains in circulation on legacy and ongoing projects. Core forms include the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC), Professional Services Contract (PSC), Term Service Contract (TSC), Framework Contract (FC), Supply Contract (SC) and the Alliance Contract (ALC). Key legal features include collaborative drafting, proactive risk management (early warnings and the...

NEC3/NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract glossary: key definitions, options and processes for UK construction lawyers

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

NEC terminology

Practitioners encountering NEC Contracts for the first time may find the following clarifications of expressions used in the NEC ECC helpful, as these agreements employ numerous terms that are distinctive to the NEC suite and/or may need added clarification. When working with the NEC ECC, remember that both capitalised words and those shown in italics carry significance for interpreting the contract. If a word is capitalised, its meaning is set out in clause 11.2. If a word appears in italics, look to the entries completed in the Contract Data (where a word is italicised in the NEC ECC, it is presented in italics in this glossary). This compilation also contains expressions used within NEC that are neither defined nor included in the Contract Data (therefore not every expression in this glossary is capitalised or italicised). The material below should always be read alongside clause 11.2 and the Contract Data for the contract concerned. This glossary addresses both the NEC3 and NEC4 versions of the ECC. Accordingly, cross‑refer to clause 11.2 and the Contract Data when considering meanings. Some entries are neither capitalised nor italicised here...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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