covenant

covenant — noun

1. a legal document signed by several parties that lists the actions each side agre

1.nounB2
Definition

a legal document signed by several parties that lists the actions each side agrees to take or to avoid

Example

The landlord and tenant signed a covenant that banned subletting the apartment.

covenant restricting property use

Both nations agreed to a covenant that protected the entire border region from military activity.

covenant between nations

Common collocations
  • breach of covenant
  • restrictive covenant
  • positive covenant
  • covenant of quiet enjoyment
  • enter into a covenant
Synonyms
  • contract

    broader and more common; used for everyday business deals

  • pact

    similar formality, often between nations or political groups

  • compact

    formal and solemn, sometimes used for foundational agreements

Grammar Patterns

a/the covenant between [parties]

a covenant to [verb]

Usage Note

In property law, a covenant often appears in a deed and can be "restrictive" (forbidding certain uses) or "positive" (requiring an action such as maintaining a fence).

Common Mistakes

We made a covenant to meet for coffee every Thursday.
We made a covenant to maintain the shared garden wall.
A covenant is a formal legal agreement, not an informal arrangement between friends.

2. a written promise in which you agree to give a charity, church, or similar organ

2.nounC1
Definition

a written promise in which you agree to give a charity, church, or similar organisation a set amount of money every month or year

Example

Olivia signed a covenant with the children's hospital to give fifty pounds each month.

covenant with a charity — regular monthly amount

By signing a deed of covenant, Guo let the animal shelter claim back the tax on each monthly donation.

deed of covenant — tax reclaim mechanism

Common collocations
  • deed of covenant
  • set up a covenant
  • covenant payment
  • charitable covenant
Synonyms
  • pledge

    less formal and not necessarily a legal document

  • standing order

    refers to the bank instruction, not the promise itself

Grammar Patterns

a covenant to pay [amount] to [organisation]

a deed of covenant

Usage Note

This sense is primarily British. In the UK, a "deed of covenant" was historically used to make charitable giving tax-efficient. The term is less common in American English, where "pledge" or "donor agreement" is more typical.

Common Mistakes

I set up a covenant to give a one-time donation of fifty dollars.
I set up a covenant to give fifty dollars each month for three years.
A covenant implies regular, ongoing payments, not a single gift.

3. in the Bible, a sacred bond that God establishes with humanity, containing God's

3.nounC1
Definition

in the Bible, a sacred bond that God establishes with humanity, containing God's promises and calling for faithful conduct in return

Example

In the Book of Genesis, God made a covenant with Noah after the great flood.

biblical covenant between God and Noah

The rainbow is a sign of the covenant between God and every living creature.

rainbow as sign of the covenant

Common collocations
  • the Old Covenant
  • the New Covenant
  • covenant of grace
  • covenant relationship
  • sign of the covenant
Synonyms
  • testament

    used specifically for the two divisions of the Christian Bible (Old and New Testament)

  • alliance

    a general term for a formal relationship, less theologically specific

Grammar Patterns

the covenant with [person]

the [old/new] covenant

Usage Note

Christians distinguish between the "Old Covenant" (the agreement with Israel through Moses and the Law) and the "New Covenant" (established through Jesus Christ). Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply a written legal document.

Common Mistakes

The Bible describes a covenant between Abraham and Sarah.
The Bible describes a covenant between God and Abraham.
A biblical covenant is a promise from God, not an agreement between two human parties.

covenant — verb

Word family

  • covenanted
    adjectiveC1
  • covenanting
    adjectiveC1
  • covenanter
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A "contract" is the broadest term — it refers to any legally enforceable agreement between parties for goods, services, or actions and is used daily in business. A "covenant" carries a stronger sense of solemnity, moral obligation, and permanence; it often appears in property deeds and religious contexts. A "pact" suggests an agreement between groups or nations and can range from formal treaties to informal understandings (e.g., a peace pact). A "treaty" is strictly a written agreement between sovereign states, requiring ratification by each government. A "compact" is a formal, serious agreement, sometimes with foundational or constitutional weight (e.g., the Mayflower Compact). In short: use "contract" for everyday business, "covenant" for solemn or property-related promises, "treaty" for international relations, and "pact" or "compact" for agreements between groups where the legal formalities are less central.

contract ↗pacttreaty ↗compact ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • covenant to [verb]
  • covenant with [someone]
  • breach of covenant
  • deed of covenant
  • enter into a covenant

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word "covenant" entered English around 1300 from Old French "covenant" (agreement, pact), which came from Latin "convenire" meaning "to come together, to agree." The root "con-" (together) + "venire" (to come) also gives us "convention" and "convene." The general legal sense appeared first in English, followed by the specific biblical meaning in early English Bible translations of the 14th–16th centuries. The sense of a charitable payment arrangement emerged in British tax law in the early 20th century.