adjective
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containing, relating to, or having the nature of a promise
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insurance stipulating how the provisions of an insurance contract will be fulfilled after it has been signed
Other Word Forms
- nonpromissory adjective
- promissorily adverb
Etymology
Origin of promissory
From the Medieval Latin word prōmissōrius, dating back to 1640–50. See promise, -tory 1
Explanation
Anything promissory has to do with a promise or agreement. Little kids who say "You promised!" are very interested in promissory matters. A promise is an agreement to do something, so anything promissory is related to a promise. A handshake is often a promissory gesture. Legally, a promissory note is an agreement to pay someone money. In court, lawyers might argue about whether a certain statement was promissory – that is, whether it was a promise that must be fulfilled. Whenever this word comes up, be sure to read the fine print.
Vocabulary lists containing promissory
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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"I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr.
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Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963), List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The deadline to contest a will can be a matter of months in many jurisdictions, but the statute for promissory estoppel varies from two years to six years, depending on where you live.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026
In addition, AT Umbrella, which owns the operating subsidiaries, issued $350 million of promissory notes to the same insiders concurrent with the IPO, effectively another payout to them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025
Ali sued the publication in June 2022 for defamation and promissory fraud and asked for a trial, along with general damages, special damages, punitive damages and the cost of the lawsuit.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2025
Scavino was also granted a $600,000 retention bonus and a $4 million “executive promissory note” paid in shares, according to SEC filings.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2024
Did Tom Brown, as he took out $160 million in loans and signed promissory notes for $6.25 million without reading the paperwork?
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
