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Contract & Commercial Law vocabulary · Forming & Drafting Contracts

Draft

Meaning in contract & commercial law, with examples

/drɑːft/verbCore term

In contract & commercial law, draft means: To write the text of a contract or legal document carefully; as a noun, a version of a document that is not yet final.

In Turkish: taslağını hazırlamak, kaleme almak, taslak

How it is used

Drafting is a core skill of commercial lawyers. One side usually prepares the 'first draft' and the other sends back a 'marked-up' version with tracked changes. Versions are numbered until the parties agree the final text.

Example sentences

  1. Our legal team will draft the distribution agreement this week.

  2. I have attached the latest draft with our comments in the margin.

Common collocations

  • draft a contract
  • first draft
  • marked-up draft
  • drafting error
  • circulate a draft
  • negotiateTo discuss the terms of a deal with the other side in order to reach an agreement that both can accept.
  • contractA legally binding agreement between two or more parties in which each side promises to do, or not to do, certain things.
  • clauseA numbered section of a contract that deals with one specific subject, such as payment, confidentiality or termination.
  • recitalsThe introductory statements at the start of a contract that explain its background and purpose, often beginning with 'Whereas'.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Forming & Drafting Contracts

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.