contract
gb/kˈɑntɹˌækt/ us/kˈɑntɹˌækt/
B1
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Legally binding agreement
An official agreement between people or groups that the law says must be followed.
Usage pattern:
sign [a/an] contract
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'contract' (noun) with 'contact' due to similar spelling and pronunciation.
Synonyms
agreement (General term for mutual arrangement; not always legally binding.)
|
deal (Informal term for an arrangement, often in business context.)
Antonyms
breach (Breaking the terms of a contract, making it invalid.)
Collocations
sign a contract
|break a contract
|contract terms
|contract agreement
|contract negotiations
Themes
business
|law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company offered her a one-year contract.
- He refused to sign the contract without reading it first.
- Under the contract, they must deliver the goods by June.
- The contract clearly states the payment schedule.
Learner examples
- I signed a contract for a new job.
- The contract is for two years.
- We have a contract with the school.
- She read the contract before signing it.
Verb
B2
action
2
To make a legal agreement
To agree to do work or provide something by signing an official paper.
Usage pattern:
to contract [someone] to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'contract' meaning 'to agree formally' with 'contract' meaning 'to catch an illness'. Context is important.
Synonyms
engage (More formal; often used for hiring services.)
Collocations
contract work
|contract services
|contract with a company
Themes
business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The firm has been contracted to build the bridge.
- They contracted with a supplier for raw materials.
- She was contracted to write three articles per month.
Learner examples
- The school contracted a builder to fix the roof.
- We contracted with a company for cleaning.
- They contracted him to paint the house.
Verb
B2
action
3
To shrink or tighten
To make something smaller or shorter, or to become smaller or shorter.
Usage pattern:
[something] contracts
Synonyms
shrink (General word for becoming smaller; less technical in some contexts.)
Antonyms
expand (To become larger in size or amount.)
Collocations
muscles contract
|metal contracts
|contract in the cold
Themes
science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Metals contract as they cool.
- Her pupils contracted in the bright light.
- The material contracts when it dries.
Learner examples
- The metal contracts when it is cold.
- My muscles contract when I move.
- The plastic will contract after washing.
Verb
B2
action
4
To catch an illness
To get a disease or illness.
Usage pattern:
contract [a disease]
Synonyms
catch (More informal; used for illnesses like colds or flu.)
Collocations
contract malaria
|contract HIV
|contract an infection
Themes
health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He contracted malaria while traveling abroad.
- The virus can be contracted through contaminated water.
- She contracted pneumonia during the winter.
Learner examples
- He contracted a bad illness on holiday.
- She contracted flu last year.
- They contracted malaria in Africa.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contract
IPA
GB/kˈɑntɹˌækt/
US/kˈɑntɹˌækt/
Syllables & stress
con - tract (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: contract
- Plural: contracts
Verb
- Base: contract
- 3rd Person Singular: contracts
- Present Participle: contracting
- Past: contracted
Word family
Forms
contracts
noun
contracting
verb
contracted
verb
Core family
contractor
noun B1
Related words
Advanced or less common
contractually
adverb C1
subcontractor
noun B2
Expressions
contract out
1/kˈɑntɹˌækt ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Hire outside company for work
To pay another company to do work instead of doing it yourself.
Examples
- They decided to contract out their IT support.
- The cleaning is contracted out to a local firm.
enter into a contract
1/ˈɛntɚ ˈɪntu ə kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
formal
Begin legal agreement formally
To start an official legal agreement with someone.
Examples
- Both parties entered into a contract last month.
- We will enter into a contract once terms are agreed.
sign a contract
1/sˈaɪn ə kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
Sign legal agreement document
To write your name on an official paper to agree to it.
Examples
- We signed the contract yesterday afternoon.
- He refused to sign the contract without changes.
under contract
1/ˈʌndɚ kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
Currently bound by contract
Having a legal agreement that you must follow at this time.
Examples
- She is under contract with the studio for two more films.
- The player is still under contract until next season.
breach of contract
1/bɹˈit͡ʃ əv kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
Failure to follow contract terms
When someone does not do what they agreed to do in a contract.
Examples
- The company sued for breach of contract after the supplier failed to deliver.
- Breach of contract can result in legal action.
breach of contract
2/bɹˈit͡ʃ əv kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
formal
Failure to follow contract terms
When someone does not do what the contract says they must do.
Examples
- The company sued him for breach of contract.
- Failing to deliver on time is a breach of contract.