gentlemen's agreement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Diplomatic
Quick answer
What does “gentlemen's agreement” mean?
An informal agreement between parties based on trust and honor, rather than legal enforcement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal agreement between parties based on trust and honor, rather than legal enforcement.
A pact or understanding, often in business or politics, that is upheld by the mutual integrity of the participants and social pressure rather than by written contract or law. It implies a sense of honor and trustworthiness among those involved.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or core usage. The term is used in both varieties with the same meaning.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry a slightly archaic or traditional connotation. In modern critical discourse, it may be viewed as reflecting outdated, exclusive business practices.
Frequency
Equally recognizable in both UK and US English, though perhaps slightly more frequent in historical or business contexts in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “gentlemen's agreement” in a Sentence
The two CEOs made a gentlemen's agreement not to poach each other's staff.The deal was sealed with nothing more than a gentlemen's agreement.They have a gentlemen's agreement that the south lawn is for quiet recreation.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gentlemen's agreement” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They gentleman's-agreed to split the costs.
American English
- They gentleman's-agreed to stay out of each other's territories.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe informal deals on pricing, market division, or non-compete clauses, often in industries with long-standing relationships.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or business ethics discussions to describe informal diplomatic or corporate pacts.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or ironically for simple informal promises among friends (e.g., 'We have a gentlemen's agreement about who buys the next round').
Technical
Not typically a technical legal term; in law, it refers to a non-binding, unenforceable agreement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gentlemen's agreement”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gentlemen's agreement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gentlemen's agreement”
- Misspelling as *gentlemans agreement* (missing apostrophe and 's').
- Using it to describe any simple agreement, missing the connotation of honor and mutual trust among peers.
- Assuming it has any legal force.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a gentlemen's agreement is not legally binding or enforceable in court. It relies solely on the honor, trust, and social or professional consequences for the parties involved.
The term is gendered, reflecting a historical era when high-level business and diplomatic deals were predominantly made by men. It can imply exclusivity and is often seen as outdated. Modern equivalents like 'informal agreement' or 'handshake deal' are more inclusive.
Yes. A famous example is the US-Japan Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907, where the US agreed not to impose restrictions on Japanese immigration, and Japan agreed not to issue passports to laborers seeking to emigrate to the US.
It can be written both with and without a hyphen. 'Gentlemen's agreement' (open) is more common in modern usage, though 'gentlemen's-agreement' (hyphenated) is sometimes seen, especially when used attributively (e.g., 'a gentlemen's-agreement approach').
An informal agreement between parties based on trust and honor, rather than legal enforcement.
Gentlemen's agreement is usually formal, business, diplomatic in register.
Gentlemen's agreement: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɛnt(ə)lmənz əˈɡriːmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒɛnt(ə)lmənz əˈɡriːmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A deal sealed with a handshake (conceptually related)”
- “My word is my bond (related concept of honor)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two old-fashioned 'gentlemen' tipping their hats and shaking hands on a deal. No lawyers, no paper—just their honor.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONOR IS A CONTRACT (an abstract quality of character substitutes for a formal, legal document).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a gentlemen's agreement?