private agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

"private agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a contract or arrangement made between two parties that is not publicly known or disclosed. Example: The company's CEO and the potential investor reached a private agreement about the terms of the investment deal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

But a law established for a public reason cannot be contravened by a private agreement".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Couples in need of help will be "encouraged" to come to a private agreement.

The Guardian - Opinion

C. & N. EMPLOYES WIN.; Obtain $500,000 Advance in Wages Through Private Agreement.

The New York Times

By and large, the law of commercial tenancies was left to private agreement.

Britannica

Archives|C. & N. EMPLOYES WIN.; Obtain $500,000 Advance in Wages Through Private Agreement.

The New York Times

(A forward contract is a private agreement to deliver an asset at a fixed price at a future date).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

You'd think all this public-private agreement on regulation would be an unabashedly good thing.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was evidence they allegedly doctored a cabinet minute to reverse an earlier recommendation that the government reject a joint public-private agreement with AWH (they both claim others are responsible for this).

The Guardian - Opinion

It then proposes a new kind of ex ante public-private agreement to link skill formation and skilled migration for the mutual benefit of origin countries, destination countries, and migrants: 'Global Skill Partnerships'.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

The public-private agreement called for Udacity to support three remedial classes developed and run by professors at San Jose State.

Huffington Post

In January 2005 the U.S. EPA announced a new public private agreement to help characterize the air pollution created by the nation's approximately 450,000 AFOs.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal writing, clarify if the agreement is a formal "private contract" or a less formal "private understanding" to manage expectations regarding enforceability.

Common error

Do not assume a "private agreement" can override public laws. As noted in several Ludwig examples, agreements that contravene laws established for public reasons (like labor standards or safety regulations) are often legally void and unenforceable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "private agreement" functions as a compound noun phrase where the adjective "private" modifies the noun "agreement". In the sentences provided by Ludwig, it typically acts as the direct object of transitive verbs such as "negotiate", "reach" or "sign". It serves to distinguish specific bilateral or multilateral deals from public laws, regulations and government-mandated contracts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "private agreement" is a robust and versatile phrase used to describe non-public arrangements across a variety of fields including law, business and personal relationships. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted in professional writing. A key takeaway from the analyzed data is that while a "private agreement" offers flexibility and privacy, it cannot supersede public interest laws or statutory requirements. Whether used in the context of a "prenuptial agreement" or a corporate settlement, the phrase accurately conveys the exclusionary nature of the deal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private arrangement

Often used for less formal or more flexible personal or professional setups

private contract

Emphasizes the formal legal nature of the document rather than just the privacy

confidential agreement

Adds a specific legal layer of secrecy and non-disclosure obligations

private settlement

Specifically refers to the resolution of a legal dispute outside of court

private understanding

Indicates a shared intent or consensus that may not be written down

closed-door agreement

Idiomatic expression highlighting that the negotiation was kept from the public

informal agreement

Suggests the arrangement might not be fully documented or legally binding

mutual accord

A more formal and slightly literary way to describe a shared decision

gentleman's agreement

An unwritten deal based on honor and trust rather than legal enforcement

side deal

Often implies a secondary, potentially secretive arrangement made alongside a main one

FAQs

How do I use "private agreement" in a sentence?

You can use it as a direct object or subject, for example: "The two companies reached a "private agreement" to settle the patent dispute out of court."

What is a synonym for "private agreement"?

A common synonym is "private arrangement" or, if it is legally formal, ""private contract"".

Is a "private agreement" the same as a "confidential agreement"?

While similar, a "confidential agreement" specifically obligates the parties to keep the information secret under penalty, whereas a "private agreement" simply refers to the non-public nature of the deal.

Can a "private agreement" be oral?

Yes, it can be, though it is often referred to as a "verbal agreement" or a "gentleman's agreement" in such cases.