What does hereof mean?
Hereof is a formal adverb meaning “in this,” “of this,” or “concerning this,” depending on context. It is especially associated with contracts, legislation, notices, and other legal or official documents: for example, a contract may refer to “the terms hereof.” In older or literary writing, it can also refer to the speaker’s present location or immediate circumstances. The word is more compact and ceremonious than the modern equivalents “of this” and “concerning this,” which makes it useful when a document needs to point clearly to its own contents. Its exact meaning depends on the surrounding noun and preposition. For instance, “a provision hereof” means a provision in the current document, while “the subject hereof” means the matter discussed in it. Although still understood and used by contemporary writers, hereof often has a deliberately elevated or traditional tone, so it is less common in casual speech and everyday informal writing.
adverbIn, of, or concerning this document, statement, or place. The word is chiefly used in formal and legal contexts.
- In, of, or concerning this document, statement, or context.
- In this place or at this point, especially in older or literary usage.
"The parties agree to be bound by all the terms hereof."
"No provision hereof shall be effective unless agreed in writing."
"The witness testified that he saw the object hereof and described it in detail."
A fossilized little formula for “of this,” hereof gives legal and formal prose a distinctive sealed-note quality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hereof come from?
Hereof combines the Old English demonstrative here with the Old English preposition of. It developed as a fixed expression parallel to similar formations such as therein, whereby, and whereupon. The modern spelling and usage became established through Middle English and later legal and administrative prose.
How hereof is actually used
Hereof is formal and somewhat archaic. It is especially common in contracts, legislation, notices, and other documents, while modern general prose usually uses “of this,” “in this,” or “concerning this.”
Easily confused with hereof
Hereof refers to the document or context currently under discussion, whereas thereof refers to a different document or context previously mentioned.
Herein means “in this document” or “in this context,” while hereof can mean “of this document” or “concerning this document.”