gentlemen's agreement

American  

Or gentleman's agreement

noun

1. an agreement that, although unenforceable at law, is binding as a matter of personal honor.

2. an unwritten agreement by a socially prominent clique, private club, etc., to discriminate against or refuse to accept members of certain religious, racial, national, or other groups.

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gentlemen's agreement British  

noun

1. a personal understanding or arrangement based on honour and not legally binding

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Etymology

Origin of gentlemen's agreement

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gentlemen's agreement

In 2022, Switzerland's federal criminal court in Bellinzona cleared the two after accepting their account of a "gentlemen's agreement" for the payment.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2025

Although the league’s territorial rights were little more than a gentlemen’s agreement — and despite Pottsville having received an official approval to play the game — the N.F.L. suspended the Maroons.

From New York Times ● Jan. 14, 2022

“We made a gentlemen’s agreement that we’ll play and then we’ll figure it out,” Olivas said.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 30, 2021

He described a gentlemen’s agreement of sorts between Krahun and North Korean officials.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2013

“That’s all right,” returned Bunker, “we’ve got a gentlemen’s agreement to respect each others monuments; and you’ll find our sworn statements that the work has been done on file with the County Recorder.”

From Silver and Gold A Story of Luck and Love in a Western Mining Camp by Dane Coolidge