# covenant

/ˈkəvənənt/ (US) · /kˈʌvənənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/covenant
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. formal agreement

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a serious, formal agreement between two or more people or groups.

For teachers: a formal and binding agreement, often appearing as a clause in a contract or deed.

- The property deed included a covenant that prevented the owner from building a fence.
- The restrictive covenant embedded in the land title prohibits any commercial development that might obstruct the neighbouring residents' view of the valley.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'enter into', 'break', or 'honour'.

### 2. religious promise

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a holy promise or agreement between God and a person or group of people.

For teachers: a solemn promise or relationship of spiritual significance, typically between a deity and humanity.

- In the Bible, the rainbow is described as a sign of God's covenant with Noah.
- The theologian argued that the new covenant represented a fundamental shift in the relationship between the divine and the individual believer.

### 3. to promise formally

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to make a formal or legal promise to do something.

For teachers: to agree by lease, deed, or legal contract; to enter into a formal and binding commitment.

- The two nations covenanted to defend each other in case of an attack.
- Under the terms of the settlement, the corporation covenanted to provide annual environmental impact reports to the local council for the next decade.

Usage: Usually followed by a 'to' infinitive or a 'that' clause.

## Examples

- The two neighbors signed a covenant about the shared fence.
- The property deed includes a restrictive covenant that prevents the owner from building any structures that block the sea view.
- International human rights law is built upon several foundational covenants that member states must ratify and integrate into their own domestic legal frameworks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.