sign a non-disclosure agreement

Meaning

This formal phrase means to sign a legally binding contract promising not to share confidential information with outsiders. It is commonly used in business meetings, hiring processes, and partnership discussions. In casual office conversations, it is often abbreviated as 'sign an NDA'.

Examples

• Before we show you the prototype, we need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

  Before we show you the prototype, we need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

• All new employees must sign a non-disclosure agreement during their onboarding process.

  All new employees must sign a non-disclosure agreement during their onboarding process.

• We cannot share the financial details of this merger until both parties sign a non-disclosure agreement.

  We cannot share the financial details of this merger until both parties sign a non-disclosure agreement.

• If you want to pitch your app idea to the investors, make sure they sign a non-disclosure agreement first.

  If you want to pitch your app idea to the investors, make sure they sign a non-disclosure agreement first.

• The consultant refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement, so we had to end the partnership.

  The consultant refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement, so we had to end the partnership.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Before the meeting, we had to sign a secret contract.

  ✓ Before the meeting, we had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

  While a non-disclosure agreement keeps information secret, calling it a 'secret contract' sounds unprofessional and does not use the correct legal terminology.

• ✗ The manager made me make a non-disclosure agreement.

  ✓ The manager made me sign a non-disclosure agreement.

  You 'sign' or 'execute' an agreement to accept its terms. You only 'make' or 'draft' it if you are the lawyer writing the document.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before we can discuss the project details, you need to ___.

  💡 It is a legal document that prevents you from sharing secret information.

  Show answer

  sign a non-disclosure agreement

• The legal team insisted that the external partners ___ before accessing the database.

  💡 This contract protects company secrets from being leaked.

  Show answer

  sign a non-disclosure agreement