CONTRACT LAW is that body of law which regulates the enforcement of contracts. Contract law has its origins thousands of years ago as the early civilizations began to trade with each other, a legal system was created to support and to facilitate that trade. The English and French developed similar contract law systems, both referring extensively to old Roman contract law principles such as consensus ad idem or caveat emptor. There are some minor differences on points of detail such as the English law requirement that every contract contain consideration. More and more states are changing their laws to eliminate consideration as a prerequisite to a valid contract thus contributing to the uniformity of law. Contract law is the basis of all commercial dealings from buying a bus ticket to trading on the stock market.
| APA | Barry Goldsmith. (2010). contract law. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/contract_law/definitions/1150675 |
| Chicago | Barry Goldsmith. 2010. "contract law" http://smartdefine.org/contract_law/definitions/1150675 (accessed September 24, 2026). |
| Harvard | Barry Goldsmith 2010, contract law, Smart Define, viewed 24 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/contract_law/definitions/1150675>. |
| MLA | Barry Goldsmith. "contract law" 21 October 2010. Web. 24 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/contract_law/definitions/1150675> |