tentative agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

"tentative agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to an arrangement between parties that has been agreed upon, but is not yet a definite agreement. For example, "The two parties have reached a tentative agreement regarding the terms of their dispute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The tentative agreement was reached Saturday.

The New York Times

A tentative agreement was set April 5, but then collapsed".

The New York Times

The tentative agreement contains several minor productivity measures.

The New York Times

A tentative agreement was reached Tuesday night, McLane said.

The New York Times - Sports

G.M. workers are set to vote on the tentative agreement on Wednesday and Thursday.

The New York Times

See articleDetroit reached a tentative agreement with Syncora, one of its biggest creditors.

The Economist

But the tentative agreement includes two problematic provisions related to health care reform.

The New York Times

The document the governors approved Wednesday was merely a summary of the tentative agreement.

The New York Times - Sports

See articleTurkey and Armenia announced a tentative agreement to establish diplomatic ties and reopen their border.

The Economist

Last week, before a tentative agreement was announced, the wrangling became noticeably bitter.

The New Yorker

But perhaps they are just American football fans toasting the anticipated tentative agreement.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tentative agreement" when you want to convey that an agreement has been reached but is not yet final or fully approved. It is often used in contexts such as labor negotiations, international relations, and business deals.

Common error

Avoid treating a "tentative agreement" as a done deal. Always emphasize that further steps, such as ratification or formal signing, are required to make it official.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tentative agreement" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage. It identifies an arrangement that has been provisionally agreed upon but is not yet fully finalized or binding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tentative agreement" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe an agreement that is not yet final. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, highlighting its frequent use in news and business contexts. Alternative phrases such as "provisional agreement" or "preliminary agreement" can be used to convey similar meanings. When using this phrase, it is important to remember that it is not yet binding and that further steps are needed to finalize it. The most common mistake is to treat it as a done deal. It is found frequently in authoritative news sources such as The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provisional agreement

Replaces "tentative" with "provisional", emphasizing the temporary and conditional nature of the agreement.

preliminary agreement

Substitutes "tentative" with "preliminary", highlighting that the agreement is an initial step.

agreement in principle

Focuses on the fundamental agreement on key points, even if details are not yet resolved.

initial agreement

Similar to preliminary agreement, but focuses on the agreement being at the starting stage.

conditional agreement

Emphasizes that the agreement is dependent on certain conditions being met.

working agreement

Suggests an agreement that is currently in operation but may be subject to change.

draft agreement

Indicates that the agreement is still in the drafting stage and not yet finalized.

outline agreement

This phrase describes a general agreement that lacks specific details.

proposed agreement

Highlights that the agreement is being suggested but not yet accepted.

framework agreement

Suggests a broad agreement that provides a basis for more detailed agreements.

FAQs

What does "tentative agreement" mean?

A "tentative agreement" is a preliminary agreement reached between parties that is subject to further approval or finalization. It is not yet a binding contract.

What can I say instead of "tentative agreement"?

You can use alternatives like "provisional agreement", "preliminary agreement", or "agreement in principle" depending on the specific context.

How is a "tentative agreement" different from a final agreement?

A "tentative agreement" is not yet binding and requires further steps for approval, while a final agreement is fully ratified and legally enforceable.

Is a "tentative agreement" legally binding?

No, a "tentative agreement" is generally not legally binding until it has been formally approved and signed by all relevant parties.