Okuzeka
International Relations & Diplomacy vocabulary · Treaties & Agreements

Memorandum of understanding

Meaning in international relations & diplomacy, with examples

nounCommon term

In international relations & diplomacy, memorandum of understanding means: A written document in which two or more parties record what they have agreed to do together; between states it is usually not legally binding.

In Turkish: mutabakat zaptı, mutabakat muhtırası

How it is used

Shortened to MoU or MOU. Ministries and agencies sign MoUs on cooperation in areas such as education, energy or culture. Whether an MoU is binding depends on its wording and the parties' intention, not only on its title.

Example sentences

  1. The two ministries signed a memorandum of understanding on student exchanges.

  2. The memorandum of understanding sets out a plan for joint research but creates no legal obligations.

  3. Officials hope the memorandum of understanding will lead to a full agreement next year.

Common collocations

  • sign a memorandum of understanding
  • MoU on cooperation
  • non-binding memorandum
  • framework memorandum
  • treatyA formal written agreement between states, or between states and international organisations, that is governed by international law and creates legal obligations.
  • bindingCreating a legal obligation that the parties must follow, so that a binding agreement or decision cannot simply be ignored.
  • bilateralInvolving two countries or two parties, as in bilateral relations, a bilateral agreement or a bilateral meeting between two leaders.
  • joint statementA public statement issued together by two or more governments or organisations, setting out positions or commitments they share.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: Treaties & Agreements

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: