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specific performance

American

noun

Law.

(especially in the sale of land) literal compliance with one's contractual promises pursuant to a judicial mandate.

specific performance British

noun

law a remedy awarded by a court requiring a person to fulfil obligations under a contract where damages are an insufficient remedy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of specific performance

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“If you forced me to make a prediction,” Korobkin said, “I’m going to bet on money damages rather than specific performance, but I wouldn’t bet a lot of money on that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2026

A seller who tries to walk away may face a different prospect—a suit for specific performance, where the court is asked to force the sale of the property to the buyer, Goldstein said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

Evercore strategist Julian Emanuel identified stocks that could rebound by screening for specific performance, valuation, and market capitalization criteria.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

The two men obviously came into the debate with some very specific performance strategies and they both did what they needed to do.

From Salon • Oct. 2, 2024

But the purchaser may, in a proper case, obtain specific performance, and if he has been cheated may obtain damages in an action for deceit.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023