the contract was terminated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the contract was terminated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in legal or business contexts to indicate that an agreement has been ended. Example: "Due to the breach of terms, the contract was terminated effective immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The contract was terminated.

The New York Times

I sent back the phone and the contract was terminated.

The Guardian - Money

But Siemens failed to deliver and the contract was terminated in 2009 mby mutual agreement.

The Guardian

Cleveland maintains the option is terminated because the contract was terminated.

The New York Times - Sports

The contract was terminated, it said, "only when it stopped enhancing the corporate image".

The New York Times - Sports

The contract was terminated eight months early after the hospital deficit increased from £839,000 to £3.5m.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

In April, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates helpfully followed through by recommending that the contract be terminated.

The New York Times

The back-loading of payments makes good sense as a bidder as failure to make the terms of the contract by that time is less likely to result in the contract being terminated.

The Guardian

Another lawmaker, Senator John McKinney, a Republican from Southport, said another company could step in and manage the emissions program if Agbar is suspended or if the contract is terminated.

The New York Times

"It should be really freely revoked, and without expecting that the contract is terminated because of this.

TechCrunch

If the contract is terminated, it would raise the possibility of Halfpenny returning to Wales on a dual contract partly-funded by the Welsh Rugby Union.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the contract was terminated" in formal communication when you want to objectively state the end of an agreement, especially when the reason for termination isn't the main focus.

Common error

Avoid using "the contract was terminated" when it's more effective to state who terminated the contract. For example, instead of "the contract was terminated", consider "the company terminated the contract" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the contract was terminated" functions as a declarative statement indicating that an agreement has been brought to an end. This is a passive construction where the action is emphasized over the actor. Ludwig AI affirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for legal or business contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the contract was terminated" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for indicating the end of a contractual agreement. It is typically employed in formal contexts such as news reports, legal documents, and business communications. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suggests alternatives like "the agreement was cancelled" or "the deal was called off" for different levels of formality. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who terminated the contract when relevant, and be mindful of the passive voice construction. Overall, this phrase serves as a clear and concise way to communicate the termination of a contract.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the agreement was cancelled

Replaces "contract" with "agreement", a more general term for a formal understanding, and uses "cancelled" instead of "terminated".

the contract has been nullified

Similar to "voided", but emphasizes the contract's lack of legal effect after the nullification.

the contract was voided

Indicates the contract was made invalid, often due to legal reasons or a breach of terms.

the contract was revoked

Suggests that the contract was officially taken back or cancelled by an authority.

the arrangement was dissolved

Substitutes "contract" with "arrangement" and "terminated" with "dissolved", suggesting a more formal or legal context.

the contract was rescinded

Implies the contract was cancelled and the parties are restored to their original positions before the contract.

the contract came to an end

Rephrases the termination as a natural conclusion, using "came to an end" instead of "was terminated".

the contract is no longer in effect

States that the contract is not currently active or binding.

the contract lapsed

Suggests the contract expired due to a failure to renew or meet certain conditions.

the deal was called off

Uses more informal language, replacing "contract" with "deal" and "terminated" with "called off".

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "the contract was terminated"?

You can use alternatives like "the agreement was cancelled", "the deal was called off", or "the arrangement was dissolved" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when talking about contract terminations?

Using active voice (e.g., "We terminated the contract") is often clearer because it specifies who performed the action. However, passive voice ("the contract was terminated") is suitable when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

What does it mean when a contract is terminated?

It means the agreement is ended before its natural expiration date. Termination can occur due to breach of contract, mutual agreement, or other specified reasons.

What is the difference between "the contract was terminated" and "the contract expired"?

"The contract was terminated" implies an active decision to end the agreement early, while "the contract expired" means the agreement reached its natural conclusion as defined in the contract terms.