OFFER

10 definitions found across Law Mind sources

OFFERAuthored
The Law Mind • 1265 words
Definition
An offer is a definite proposal communicated by one party (the offeror) to another (the offeree), expressing willingness to enter into a contract on specified terms, with the intention that acceptance will create a binding agreement. An offer is the first operative step in contract formation: it gives the offeree the power to conclude a contract by acceptance. 1. Offer as contractual proposal. The core legal meaning. A valid offer must be sufficiently definite in its terms, must be communicated to the offeree, and must be made with apparent intent to be bound. Until communicated, a proposal is not legally an offer — the offeree cannot accept what they have not received. The offer remains open until accepted, rejected, revoked, lapsed by time, or terminated by the death or incapacity of a party. 2. Offer as evidentiary concept. In litigation, an "offer" of evidence is the act of presenting or tendering a document, testimony, or exhibit for admission into the record. This usage is procedurally distinct from the contract sense but appears frequently in trial transcripts and court opinions within the same sources. 3. Offer as attempt (criminal and archaic). Older sources, including Black's 2nd edition, use "offer" to mean an attempt or endeavor — particularly in criminal contexts (e.g., "an offer to commit assault"). This usage is largely obsolete in modern practice but appears in nineteenth-century case law.
Common Language
Modern common usage (Wiktionary): Wiktionary's primary entry for "offer" as a noun refers to a surname, which is unhelpful here; the ordinary English verb and noun sense — to present something for acceptance, to hold out for consideration — is the everyday meaning. Historical common usage (Webster's 1913): "To bring to or before; to hold out to; to present for acceptance or rejection." Webster's also captures the religious sense: to present as an act of worship, to sacrifice or immolate. The everyday meaning and the legal meaning are closer for "offer" than for most legal terms, but the gap is real and consequential. In common speech, calling something an "offer" carries no legal weight — a store advertisement, a casual suggestion, or a price quote may all be called offers in ordinary conversation. In contract law, none of these is necessarily a legally operative offer. The legal definition requires definiteness, communication, and apparent intent to be bound. Researchers reading nineteenth-century sources must also watch for the religious and archaic attempt senses, which appear without warning in older text.
Core Elements
For an offer to be legally operative in contract formation: Definiteness. The terms must be sufficiently certain that a court can determine what was promised. Vague or incomplete proposals — missing price, quantity, or essential terms — may fail as offers. Communication. The proposal must actually reach the offeree. Bouvier is explicit: a proposal "is not in law an offer until it comes to the knowledge of the person to whom it is made." Intent to be bound. The offeror must manifest willingness to be bound upon acceptance. Preliminary negotiations, invitations to bid, and advertisements are generally not offers because they lack this element. Power of acceptance conferred. Once a valid offer exists, the offeree holds the power to convert it into a binding promise by accepting on the stated terms.
Why It Matters in Research
The word "offer" appears in Law Mind sources across at least three distinct legal contexts — contract formation, evidence procedure, and archaic criminal law — and the context is not always signaled. A researcher searching the corpus for "offer" will pull results from contracts treatises, trial procedure manuals, tax compromise materials, and nineteenth-century criminal opinions simultaneously. Filter by subject area before drawing conclusions. The offer-in-compromise usage (tax law) is a specialized administrative procedure with its own statutory framework, entirely separate from the contracts doctrine. The two appear under the same keyword in unfiltered searches. See tax_152 for the administrative context. The evidentiary "offer of proof" or "offer of evidence" usage is governed by procedural rules, not contract doctrine. See civpro_147 for Rule 408 treatment of compromise offers, where the policy concern is admissibility rather than contract formation. Historically, courts and treatise writers drew fine distinctions between an offer and an "invitation to treat" (or invitation to make an offer). This distinction — critical in determining who bears the power of acceptance — is underexplored in the older dictionary sources and must be supplemented with treatise material. Black's 1st edition gives only the bare definition; Bouvier's goes further and correctly identifies communication to the offeree as essential. Watch for revocation rules in historical sources. The common law rule that an offer is freely revocable before acceptance, even if the offeror promised to keep it open, evolved significantly with the adoption of firm offer rules under the Uniform Commercial Code for merchants. Sources predating the UCC will not reflect firm offer doctrine.
Historical Dictionary Support
Black's 1st edition is minimal: "a proposal to do a thing" and "a proposal to make a contract," with the additional note that offer can mean an attempt. Useful as a signpost but not as analysis. Black's 2nd edition is more useful, distinguishing two senses — presenting for acceptance or rejection, and attempting or endeavoring — with case citations. The criminal/attempt sense is confirmed by People v. Ah Fook and reflects genuine nineteenth-century usage that modern researchers may misread as contract language. Bouvier's is the strongest of the shelf sources on this term. It correctly states that an offer must be communicated to be operative, that the offeree holds the power of acceptance while the offer remains in force, and that the offeror may specify a duration. The reference to Langdell's Contracts is instructive — Langdell's analysis of offer and acceptance was foundational to classical contract theory, and Bouvier's entry reflects that influence. Anderson's entry retrieved under this keyword addresses title by occupancy — an apparent misfiling in the source corpus. Researchers should disregard it as responsive to this term. All four historical sources treat offer primarily as a contracts concept, which reflects their period accurately. None addresses the firm offer, the distinction between bilateral and unilateral offer acceptance, or the UCC modifications — all of which are essential for modern research and must be sourced elsewhere.
Jurisdictional Note
The basic doctrine of offer is substantially uniform across common law jurisdictions. The most significant variation concerns firm offers: UCC Article 2 makes a merchant's written offer irrevocable for up to ninety days without consideration; common law and non-UCC transactions do not recognize this rule. Civil law jurisdictions (Louisiana; international commercial contexts under CISG) treat offer revocability differently from standard American common law.
Encyclopedia Cross-Reference
contracts_15: Contracts — Option Contracts and Firm Offers (The Law Mind Contracts & Commercial Law Encyclopedia) — primary reference for offer doctrine, revocability, and the firm offer rule. civpro_147: Compromise Offers and Negotiations — Rule 408 (The Law Mind Civil Procedure & Evidence Encyclopedia) — for the evidentiary treatment of settlement offers. tax_152: Offers in Compromise (The Law Mind Tax Encyclopedia) — for the administrative tax procedure bearing the same name.
Related Terms
Acceptance — Counteroffer — Revocation of Offer — Invitation to Treat — Option Contract — Firm Offer — Consideration — Contract Formation — Offeror — Offeree — Meeting of the Minds — Lapse of Offer — Offer of Proof — Offer in Compromise
OFFERmain
Black's Law Dictionary • 1891
A proposal to do a thing. A proposal to make a contract. Also an at- tempt.
OFFERmain
Black's Law Dictionary (2nd Ed.) • 1910
1. To bring to or before; to present for acceptance or rejection; to hold out or proffer; to make a proposal to; to exhibit something that may be taken or reeeived or not. Morrison vy. Springer, 15 Iowa, 346; Vincent v. Woodland Oil Co., 165 Pa. 402, 30 Atl. 991; People v. Ah Fook, 62 Cal. 494. 2. To attempt or endeavor; to make an effort to effect some object; in this sense used principally in criminal law. Com. v. Harris, 1 Leg. Gaz. R. (Pa.) 457. 3. In trial practice, to “offer” evidence is to state its nature and purport, or to recite what is expected to be proved by a given witness or document, and demand its admission. Unless under exceptional circumstances, the term is not to be taken as equlralent to “introduce.” See Ansley vy. Meikle, 81 Ind. 260; Lyon v. Davis, 111 Ind. 384, 12 N. E. 714; Harris v. Tomlinson, 130 Ind. 426, 30 N. E. 214.
OFFERmain
Anderson's Dictionary of Law • 1890
Title by occupancy is the taking possession of those things which before belonged to nobody.1 The foundation of property, of holding those things in severalty which by the law of nature, unqualified by that of society, were common to all mankind.¹ Thus, at common law, one may take to his own use goods of an alien enemy; movables returned into the common stock of things by abandonment; the benefits of the elements - light, air, water; and wild animals. Other examples of title acquired by first occupancy are: emblements; additions to property by accession, or by wrongful confusion of goods; an author's right in his literary composition; the right to the exclusive use of a trade-mark, or of a firm name.2 Lest this property should determine by the owner's dereliction, or death, whereby the thing would again become common, society has established contracts, conveyances, wills, and heirships, by which to continue the property of the first occupant. See DISCOVERY, 1. Occupant; occupier. The "first occupant" is he who first declared his intention to appropriate a thing to his own use, and actually took it into possession.4 An "occupant" has the actual use or possession of a thing.5 An "occupier" is one in the use and enjoyment of a thing.6 May imply that the person is in the actual bona fide possession of land as a resident." See ABANDON, 1; FIND, 1. Occupation. 1. Actual possession of real property. See USE, 2. 2. Employment at a particular business; engagement; vocation; calling; trade. See EMPLOYMENT; PROFESSION; TRADE; TAX, 2. 1. A proposition to do a thing.9 May be convertible with "attempt,” 10 q. v. ; but "offering" does not mean the same as promising" a reward to a voter.11 An offer of a bargain by one person to another imposes no obligation upon the former until it is accepted by the latter according to the terms in which the offer was made. Any qualification of, or departure from, those terms invalidates the offer, unless agreed to by the person who made it. Until the terms of the agreement have received the assent of both parties the negotiation is open and imposes no obligation upon either party. 12 An offer to sell, subject to acceptance, binds the party offering, but not the other party until acceptance. And so, also, as to an optional purchase, based upon a sufficient consideration. 13 An offer to do a thing, as, to insure property, made by mail, binds the person making the offer, according 1 Hannum v. Kingsley, 107 Mass. 361 (1871). 2 Davis v. State, 38 Ohio St. 506 (1882). See 1 Paine, 336; 21 Barb. 475. Spelled also offence. O. F. offence, offense: L. offensa: of-fendere, to dash against. • Moore v. Illinois, 14 How. 19 (1852). • People v. Police Commissioners, 39 Hun, 510 (1886). • Redfield v. Utica, &c. R. Co., 25 Barb. 58 (1851); City See also 1 Oreg. 192; 3 Tex. 314; 18 Gratt. 955. of Bangor v. Rowe, 57 Me. 439 (1869). • [Fleming v. Maddox, 30 Iowa, 242 (1870). Hussey v. Smith, 1 Utah, 132 (1873); 3 Op. Att.-Gen. 126 (1830); ib. 182 (1837); Abbott v. Upham, 13 Metc. 174 (1847); O'Neale v. Cleaveland, 3 Nev. 492 (1867). • Lawrence v. Fulton, 19 Cal. 690 (1862); McKenzie v. Brandon, 71 id. 211 (1886); Fleming v. Maddox, 30 Iowa, 242 (1870). • See Schuchardt v. People, 99 III. 506 (1881). 10 Johnson v. Humboldt Ins. Co., 91 Ill. 95 (1878). Hay v. Star Fire Ins. Co., 77 N. Y. 243 (1879). 7 [Wharton's Law Dict. 8 State v. Cantieny, 34 Minn. 9 (1885). • People v. Ah Fook, 62 Cal. 494 (1881). 10 Commonwealth v. Harris, 1 Pa. Leg. Gaz. R. 457 (1871). 11 State v. Harker, 4 Harring. 561 (1845). 12 Eliason v. Henshaw, 4 Wheat. 228 (1819), Washington, J. See also Tilley v. County of Cook, 103 U. S. 161 (1880), cases: 12 Mo. Ap. 384. 13 Butler v. Thompson, 92 U. S. 415-16 (1875); Langd. Contr. § 151.
OFFERv.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
To present, as an act of worship; to immolate; to sacrifice; to present in prayer or devotion; -- often with up. Thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement. Ex. xxix. 36. A holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. 1 Pet. ii. 5. To bring to or before; to hold out to; to present for acceptance or rejection; as, to offer a present, or a bribe; to offer one's self in marriage. I offer thee three things. 2 Sam. xxiv. 12. To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to suggest; as, to offer an opinion. With the infinitive as an objective: To make an offer; to declare one's willingness; as, he offered to help me. To attempt; to undertake. All that offer to defend him. Shak. To bid, as a price, reward, or wages; as, to offer a guinea for a ring; to offer a salary or reward. To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive way; to threaten; as, to offer violence, attack, etc.
OFFERv.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
To present itself; to be at hand. The occasion offers, and the youth complies. Dryden. To make an attempt; to make an essay or a trial; -- used with at. "Without offering at any other remedy." Swift. He would be offering at the shepherd's voice. L'Estrange. I will not offer at that I can not master. Bacon.
OFFERn.
Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913) • 1913
The act of offering, bringing forward, proposing, or bidding; a proffer; a first advance. "This offer comes from mercy." Shak. That which is offered or brought forward; a proposal to be accepted or rejected; a sum offered; a bid. When offers are disdained, and love denied. Pope. Attempt; endeavor; essay; as, he made an offer to catch the ball. "Some offer and attempt." South.
Offername
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
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A surname.
offernoun
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
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A proposal that has been made. | Something put forth, bid, proffered or tendered. | An invitation to enter into a binding contract communicated to another party which contains terms sufficiently definite to create an enforceable contract if the other party accepts the invitation.
offerverb
Wiktionary (English) • 2026
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To propose or express one's willingness (to do something). | To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to suggest. | To place at someone’s disposal; to present (something) to be either accepted or turned down. | To place at someone’s disposal; to present (something) to be either accepted or turned down. | To present (something) for sale. | To present (something) to God or gods, as a gesture of worship or as a sacrifice. | To present (something) to the sight etc.; to provide for use, consideration etc. | To place (something) in a position where it can be added to an existing mechanical assembly. | To bid, as a price, reward, or wages. | To happen, to present itself. | To make an attempt; typically used with at. | To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive or defensive way; to threaten.

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