sign a contract

Meaning

This phrase means to formally agree to a legally binding document by writing your signature on it. It is used in business, employment, real estate, and legal contexts to finalize an agreement. The tone is formal, professional, and serious.

Examples

• Before you start your new job, you need to sign a contract.

  Before you start your new job, you need to sign a contract.

• Our company is ready to sign a contract with the new supplier next week.

  Our company is ready to sign a contract with the new supplier next week.

• Do not sign a contract until you have read all the fine print.

  Do not sign a contract until you have read all the fine print.

• They decided to sign a contract after negotiating the terms for three months.

  They decided to sign a contract after negotiating the terms for three months.

• Once both parties sign a contract, the agreement becomes legally binding.

  Once both parties sign a contract, the agreement becomes legally binding.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to signature a contract.

  ✓ We need to sign a contract.

  'Signature' is a noun. The verb form is 'sign'.

• ✗ He signed on a contract yesterday.

  ✓ He signed a contract yesterday.

  'Sign' is a transitive verb here and does not require the preposition 'on' when followed directly by the object.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We shouldn't start the work until they officially ___.

  💡 Put their signatures on the agreement.

  Show answer

  sign a contract

• Make sure a lawyer reviews the terms before you ___.

  💡 Formally agree to the legal document.

  Show answer

  sign a contract