stipulate

¹

[ stip-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used without object)

, stip·u·lat·ed, stip·u·lat·ing.

1. to make an express demand or arrangement as a condition of agreement (often followed by for ).

verb (used with object)

, stip·u·lat·ed, stip·u·lat·ing.

1. to arrange expressly or specify in terms of agreement:

   to stipulate a price.

   Synonyms: state, specify, name, fix, detail, define, lay down

2. to require as an essential condition in making an agreement:

   Total disarmament was stipulated in the peace treaty.

   Synonyms: specify, require, prescribe, demand

3. to promise, in making an agreement.
4. Law. to accept (a proposition) without requiring that it be established by proof:

   to stipulate the existence of certain facts or that an expert witness is qualified.

stipulate

²

[ stip-yuh-lit, -leyt ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. having stipules.

stipulate

¹

/ ˈstɪpjʊlətərɪ; ˈstɪpjʊləbəl; ˈstɪpjʊˌleɪt; -trɪ /

verb

1. tr; may take a clause as object to specify, often as a condition of an agreement
2. intrfoll byfor to insist (on) as a term of an agreement
3. Roman law to make (an oral contract) in the form of question and answer necessary to render it legally valid
4. tr; may take a clause as object to guarantee or promise

stipulate

²

/ -ˌleɪt; ˈstɪpjʊlɪt /

adjective

1. (of a plant) having stipules

Derived Forms

• ˌstipuˈlation, noun
• stipulatory, adjective
• ˈstipuˌlator, noun
• stipulable, adjective

Other Words From

• stip·u·la·ble [stip, -y, uh, -l, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• stip·u·la·tor noun
• stip·u·la·to·ry [stip, -y, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stipulate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin stipulātus (past participle of stipulārī “to demand a formal agreement”), apparently equivalent to stipul- ( stipule ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Origin of stipulate²

From the New Latin word stipulātus, dating back to 1770–80. See stipule, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of stipulate¹

C17: from Latin stipulārī, probably from Old Latin stipulus firm, but perhaps from stipula a stalk, from the convention of breaking a straw to ratify a promise

Example Sentences

The government's latest announcement also only stipulates fees and loans in the 2025-26 academic year.

From BBC

Investors were so worried the South African native would be deported that they even stipulated that he obtain legal status in their contracts, creating a paper trail proving his "illegal" status.

From Salon

According to the stipulated judgment, the company “has compliance programs in place to reasonably comply” with state laws regarding the generation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

From Los Angeles Times

But in law, most legal codes of ethics stipulate that the strategy of unreasonably delaying a trial is clearly an ethical violation.

From Salon

Her team argue that the Conservative Party has stipulated that the programme must be in-keeping with rules set out by the Conservative Party Board.

From BBC

Related Words

• designate
• guarantee
• impose
• lay down
• provide
• require
• specify
• spell out