English Reference
Verb

stipulate

v.
C1 Advanced US /ˈstɪpjəˌɫeɪt/ stip·u·late UK spelling stipulates, stipulating Botany Law

v.to state a specific condition that must be met. You use this when talking about rules in a contract or an agreement.

v.to state a specific condition or requirement as a necessary part of an agreement. Often used in legal or formal contexts to specify the terms of a contract.


SIMPLE

The contract stipulates that payment must be made by Friday.

CONTEXTUAL

The new lease agreement stipulates that the tenant must maintain the garden in a tidy condition at all times.

COMPLEX

The treaty was designed to stipulate clear boundaries and ensure that both nations would refrain from any further military incursions into the disputed territory.

In recent weeks, the police have closed dozens of cafes, often citing laws that stipulate women must veil in public.

The New York Times· 24 Aug 2026

Other laws stipulate that everyday observers of certain crimes have a legal responsibility to report them and to protect victims if possible.

The Conversation· 13 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

From Latin stipulātus, perfect active participle of stipulor (“to demand a formal promise, stipulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Etymology 2

From stipule + -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin stipulātus
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated