gentlemen's agreement; informal agreement based on trust
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
gentlemen's agreement; unwritten agreement; pact based on trust
formalOriginally used in international diplomacy to denote agreements made without a formal, signed document, relying on oral promises or exchanged letters. Now more broadly refers to any informal agreement based on mutual trust.
The two countries first reached a gentlemen's agreement.
This kind of gentlemen's agreement is also common in the business world.
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We have a gentlemen's agreement between us, so no contract was signed.
noun
personal agreement based on trust; promise
informalRefers to a personal agreement or promise between individuals that relies on mutual trust and honor rather than legal enforcement.
This is our gentlemen's agreement; you mustn't go back on your word.
They collaborated for many years based on a simple gentlemen's agreement.
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A gentlemen's agreement often tests integrity more than a written contract does.