amicable agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amicable agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to an agreement that is reached in a friendly, peaceful, and mutually acceptable manner. For example, "The two parties were able to reach an amicable agreement after a lengthy negotiation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Richards said he was leaving the station by "amicable agreement".

The Guardian

Alan Herman, Hatch's agent, said: "It came down to a very amicable agreement.

The New York Times - Sports

There is talk of trying to buy the backlist from PFD, but an amicable agreement does not look likely.

The Economist

By amicable agreement the British relinquished their military bases on the island, and Ceylon established diplomatic relations with communist states.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A spokeswoman said an amicable agreement had been in place for many years and remained valid for another three years.

The Guardian

The Justice Department spent more than a year trying to negotiate an amicable agreement to remedy Alabama's conceded violations of federal law.

The New York Times

Ortiz alleges she was subjected to nearly a decade of wage theft and physical and verbal abuse, and they have just reached an amicable agreement.

The Guardian

The men decided to divorce in January and reached an amicable agreement about splitting up their house, cars and other property.

The New York Times

Oliveira was out of the country yesterday, but Madail said the federation sent him a fax proposing an amicable agreement to end his contract, which expires in 2004.

The New York Times - Sports

Hughes is the leading candidate to replace Gérard Houllier, who this evening reached an amicable agreement with Villa over the terms of his exit.

The Guardian - Sport

In a statement Christie's said it "is delighted to be offering this important work for sale next week in London following an amicable agreement with the client in 2011".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing negotiations or settlements, use "amicable agreement" to highlight the positive and cooperative nature of the resolution.

Common error

While "amicable agreement" is suitable for many situations, consider more formal terms like 'mutually acceptable terms' in highly formal legal or business documents where a more detached tone is preferred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amicable agreement" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI confirms it's used to describe a settlement or understanding reached in a friendly manner, as evidenced in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "amicable agreement" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes a settlement or understanding reached in a friendly and cooperative manner. Ludwig AI validates its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and legal settings. When writing, use "amicable agreement" to emphasize the positive and cooperative nature of a resolution, but be mindful of the register and consider more formal alternatives in highly formal documents. Ludwig can help you find even more examples and synonyms to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmonious agreement

Replaces 'amicable' with 'harmonious', emphasizing the peaceful and cooperative nature of the agreement.

friendly settlement

Substitutes 'agreement' with 'settlement', focusing on the resolution aspect, and keeps the 'friendly' tone.

peaceful resolution

Highlights the 'peaceful' manner in which the issue was resolved, differing slightly from the initial agreement phase.

mutually acceptable understanding

Replaces the entire phrase with a more descriptive alternative, emphasizing mutual acceptance and understanding.

consensual arrangement

Uses 'consensual arrangement' to underscore that the agreement was reached with everyone's consent and it is well organized.

good understanding

Uses a simpler phrasing focusing on 'good understanding' between the parties.

favorable agreement

Replaces 'amicable' with 'favorable', highlighting that the agreement is beneficial to all parties.

beneficial agreement

Similar to 'favorable agreement', emphasizing the advantageous nature of the agreement for everyone involved.

amicable arrangement

Substitutes 'agreement' with 'arrangement', slightly changing the formality and context.

peaceable agreement

Replaces 'amicable' with 'peaceable', stressing the non-conflictual nature of the agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "amicable agreement" in a sentence?

You might say, "After several discussions, the company and the union reached an "amicable agreement" regarding the new contract terms."

What are some alternatives to "amicable agreement"?

Consider using phrases like "harmonious agreement", "friendly settlement", or "mutually acceptable understanding" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "amicable agreement" formal or informal?

"Amicable agreement" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both professional and news contexts. For highly formal contexts, more specific legal terms may be appropriate.

What's the difference between "amicable agreement" and "informal agreement"?

An "amicable agreement" emphasizes the friendly and cooperative nature of the agreement, while an "informal agreement" focuses on the lack of strict formalities. An "amicable agreement" can still be a formal contract.