What does stipulated mean?
“Stipulated” means expressly specified or required, especially in a contract, agreement, or other formal arrangement. The verb “stipulate” is used when the parties to an arrangement state a condition that must be fulfilled, such as a deadline, price, method of delivery, or technical standard. In the form “as stipulated,” it refers to something according to the exact terms previously set down. The word has a formal, authoritative tone and is especially common in legal and business writing, though it is also used in technical and administrative contexts. “Stipulated” is more precise than “suggested” or “expected”: it indicates a requirement that has been explicitly established. It can also function as an adjective describing a term, amount, condition, or other feature named in an agreement.
To state or specify a condition or requirement in a contract, agreement, or formal arrangement.
"The parties stipulated that payment would be made in two installments."
Formal and especially common in legal, contractual, and business contexts.
Clearly specified or required by an agreement, contract, or formal arrangement.
"The work was completed according to the stipulated schedule."
Usually used of terms, conditions, amounts, deadlines, or other requirements set out in advance.
A stipulation is not merely a suggestion: in a contract, it can turn an agreed detail into a binding condition.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stipulated come from?
The word comes from Latin stipulari, meaning “to stipulate” or “to make a formal agreement,” and ultimately from stipulus, a term associated with formal engagement or agreement. English “stipulate” entered use in the late 16th century, with “stipulated” appearing as its past-participle and adjectival form. The related words “stipulation,” “stipulator,” and “stipulatory” share the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How stipulated is actually used
The word is formal and especially common in legal, contractual, technical, and business contexts. It usually implies that a requirement has been expressly agreed or clearly set out.