Contract Glossary
Adhesion Contract
Definition
A take-it-or-leave-it contract drafted entirely by one party with stronger bargaining power, offered to the other party on a non-negotiable basis. Think of the Terms of Service you click 'I agree' to without reading, that's an adhesion contract.
In Practice
You encounter adhesion contracts constantly: software licenses, cell phone agreements, gym memberships, even some freelance platform terms. The key issue is that you didn't have any say in the terms. Courts sometimes refuse to enforce particularly unfair provisions in adhesion contracts, especially if they're hidden in fine print.
Common in these contract types
Related terms
Related contract clauses
Frequently asked questions
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