contra proferentem

noun

A doctrine of contractual interpretation providing that, where a term is ambiguous, the preferred meaning should be the one that works against the interests of the party who provided the wording.

OriginLatin contra proferentem →
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Meanings

nouncontra proferentem (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelawA doctrine of contractual interpretation providing that, where a term is ambiguous, the preferred meaning should be the one that works against the interests of the party who provided the wording.

Origin

  1. Latincontra proferentem
  2. Englishcontra proferentem

From Latin contra proferentem.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

contra proferentem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contra%20proferentem

MLA

“contra proferentem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contra%20proferentem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “contra proferentem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contra%20proferentem.

Source: contra proferentem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.