Okuzeka
Law vocabulary · Legal Writing & Drafting

Deem

Meaning in law, with examples

/diːm/verbCommon term

In law, deem means: To treat something as true or as having a certain effect for legal purposes, even if it may not be so in fact.

In Turkish: saymak, kabul etmek, addetmek

How it is used

Very common in contracts and statutes, usually in the passive: 'shall be deemed to', 'is deemed to have accepted', 'deemed received'. A 'deeming provision' creates a legal fiction, for example that a notice sent by email is received the next business day. In formal everyday English it means 'consider': 'if deemed necessary'.

Example sentences

  1. Any notice sent by email shall be deemed received on the next business day.

  2. If the buyer does not object within ten days, the goods are deemed accepted.

Common collocations

  • shall be deemed
  • deemed to have
  • deemed received
  • if deemed necessary
  • deeming provision
  • shallA modal verb used in contracts and laws to show that something is required, not simply that it will happen in the future.
  • provisionA part of a law or a legal document that states a particular rule, condition or requirement.
  • clauseA numbered section of a contract or other legal document that deals with one particular point, such as payment, termination or confidentiality.
  • draftTo write a legal document such as a contract, letter or court submission, usually as a first version that others will review and change.

More terms: Legal Writing & Drafting

Practise with graded reading

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

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