TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
ILLEGAL CONTRACT [13 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2016-08-31
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Special-Language Phraseology
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- contract illegal as formed
1, record 1, English, contract%20illegal%20as%20formed
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A contract... created for an illegal purpose. 2, record 1, English, - contract%20illegal%20as%20formed
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- contrat illégal quant à sa formation
1, record 1, French, contrat%20ill%C3%A9gal%20quant%20%C3%A0%20sa%20formation
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2016-08-31
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Special-Language Phraseology
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- contract illegal as performed
1, record 2, English, contract%20illegal%20as%20performed
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A contract is illegal as performed if, though lawful in its formation, it is performed by one of the parties in a manner prohibited by statute. 1, record 2, English, - contract%20illegal%20as%20performed
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- contrat illégal quant à son exécution
1, record 2, French, contrat%20ill%C3%A9gal%20quant%20%C3%A0%20son%20ex%C3%A9cution
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2015-11-13
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- PAJLO
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Tort Law (common law)
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- consideration
1, record 3, English, consideration
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Courts have used the word "consideration" with many different meanings. It is often used merely to express the legal conclusion that a promise is enforceable. Historically, its primary meaning may have been that the conditions were met under which an action of assumpsit(an early form of contract action) would lie. It was also used as the equivalent of the "quid pro quo" required in an action of debt. A seal, it has been said, imports a consideration, although the law was clear that no element of bargain was necessary to enforcement of a promise under seal. On the other hand, consideration has sometimes been used to refer to almost any reason asserted for enforcing a promise, even though the reason was insufficient(as in) promises in consideration of love and affection, illegal consideration, past consideration, and consideration furnished by reliance on a gratuitous promise where in fact there has been no consideration at all.(Yogis, 1983, p. 47). 2, record 3, English, - consideration
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Technical sense, as in "doctrine of consideration." 3, record 3, English, - consideration
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- PAJLO
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Droit des délits (common law)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- contrepartie
1, record 3, French, contrepartie
correct, feminine noun, standardized
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Le mot «consideration» n'est pas toujours employé dans ce sens technique. Ainsi, le tour «in consideration for the sum of» peut se rendre par «moyennant la somme de». 2, record 3, French, - contrepartie
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
contrepartie : terme normalisé par le Comité de normalisation, Promotion de l'accès à justice dans les deux langues officielles (PAJLO). 3, record 3, French, - contrepartie
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2015-10-19
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Law of Obligations (civil law)
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- enforcement of contract
1, record 4, English, enforcement%20of%20contract
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The court is bound to veto the enforcement of a contract once it knows it is illegal... 1, record 4, English, - enforcement%20of%20contract
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Droit des obligations (droit civil)
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- exécution forcée du contrat
1, record 4, French, ex%C3%A9cution%20forc%C3%A9e%20du%20contrat
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Exécution forcée : exécution d'une convention ou d'un jugement imposée au débiteur [...] 2, record 4, French, - ex%C3%A9cution%20forc%C3%A9e%20du%20contrat
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2015-03-18
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Law of Obligations (civil law)
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- supervening illegality
1, record 5, English, supervening%20illegality
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Supervening illegality, for example, a statute or proclamation making trading with an enemy in time of war illegal, renders the act or contract illegal, but not impossible to perform. 2, record 5, English, - supervening%20illegality
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 CONT
It is now customary to treat supervening illegality as an instance of frustration, in that it is similar to frustration by a subsequent change in the law. 3, record 5, English, - supervening%20illegality
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Droit des obligations (droit civil)
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- source survenante d'illégalité
1, record 5, French, source%20survenante%20d%27ill%C3%A9galit%C3%A9
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 2014-05-16
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Law of Obligations (civil law)
- Patents (Law)
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- blue-pencil severance
1, record 6, English, blue%2Dpencil%20severance
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
- blue pencil severance 2, record 6, English, blue%20pencil%20severance
correct
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The doctrine of severance refers to two methods of removing illegal features of a contract to render the contract enforceable :(a) “notional severance” and(b) “blue-pencil severance. ” 3, record 6, English, - blue%2Dpencil%20severance
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Droit des obligations (droit civil)
- Brevets d'invention (Droit)
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- trait de crayon bleu
1, record 6, French, trait%20de%20crayon%20bleu
correct, masculine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
En matière contractuelle, technique consistant à radier ou à séparer la partie illégale d’un contrat tout en laissant les parties légales intactes. 2, record 6, French, - trait%20de%20crayon%20bleu
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La théorie de la divisibilité fait référence à deux méthodes de suppression de modalités illégales d’un contrat de manière à rendre celui‑ci applicable : a) la «divisibilité fictive» et b) la technique du «trait de crayon bleu». 3, record 6, French, - trait%20de%20crayon%20bleu
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 2013-10-10
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Tort Law (common law)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Private Law
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- breach of enactment
1, record 7, English, breach%20of%20enactment
correct
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A contract lawfully entered into shall not become illegal or unenforceable by any party by reason of the fact that its performance is in breach of any enactment, unless the enactment expressly so provides or its object clearly so requires. 2, record 7, English, - breach%20of%20enactment
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Droit des délits (common law)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Droit privé
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- violation d'un texte législatif
1, record 7, French, violation%20d%27un%20texte%20l%C3%A9gislatif
correct, feminine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
- infraction à un texte législatif 1, record 7, French, infraction%20%C3%A0%20un%20texte%20l%C3%A9gislatif
correct, feminine noun
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Personne ne peut être condamné pour violation d'un texte législatif qui, à la date du fait reproché, n'était pas versé dans le recueil national ou non publié, sauf s'il est prouvé que, à la date du fait reproché, des mesures raisonnables avaient été prises pour que la personne soit informée de la teneur du texte législatif. 1, record 7, French, - violation%20d%27un%20texte%20l%C3%A9gislatif
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record 8 - internal organization data 2011-06-08
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- Offences and crimes
- Criminology
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- contract killing
1, record 8, English, contract%20killing
correct, noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
- contract murder 2, record 8, English, contract%20murder
correct
- murder-for-hire 2, record 8, English, murder%2Dfor%2Dhire
correct
Record 8, Textual support, English
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A murder in which the killer is hired by another person to kill for material reward, usually money. 2, record 8, English, - contract%20killing
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary("blood money"), or otherwise. 2, record 8, English, - contract%20killing
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Infractions et crimes
- Criminologie
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- meurtre à forfait
1, record 8, French, meurtre%20%C3%A0%20forfait
correct, masculine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
- meurtre sur gages 2, record 8, French, meurtre%20sur%20gages
correct, masculine noun
- homicide à forfait 3, record 8, French, homicide%20%C3%A0%20forfait
masculine noun
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 CONT
En droit criminel, le meurtre à forfait, encore appelé homicide à forfait «contract killing», fait partie des crimes relatifs aux règlements de compte. Un individu, chef de bande généralement, commande à une personne de main, membre de sa bande ou non, de tuer quelqu'un pour une somme d'argent ou pour quelque autre récompense. 1, record 8, French, - meurtre%20%C3%A0%20forfait
Record 8, Key term(s)
- assassinat sur commande
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Infracciones y crímenes
- Criminología
Record 8, Main entry term, Spanish
- asesinato por encargo
1, record 8, Spanish, asesinato%20por%20encargo
correct, masculine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 8, Synonyms, Spanish
- asesinato a sueldo 2, record 8, Spanish, asesinato%20a%20sueldo
correct, masculine noun
- crimen por encargo 2, record 8, Spanish, crimen%20por%20encargo
correct, masculine noun
- sicariato 2, record 8, Spanish, sicariato
masculine noun
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Sicariato. Los asesinatos por encargo se han extendido en la ciudad. Hasta hace unos años era normal en provincias. 2, record 8, Spanish, - asesinato%20por%20encargo
Record 9 - internal organization data 2008-12-01
Record 9, English
Record 9, Subject field(s)
- Titles of National Laws and Regulations (Non-Canadian)
- Laws of the Market (Economy)
- Economic Doctrines, Systems and Policies
Record 9, Main entry term, English
- Sherman Antitrust Act
1, record 9, English, Sherman%20Antitrust%20Act
correct, United States
Record 9, Abbreviations, English
Record 9, Synonyms, English
- Sherman Act 1, record 9, English, Sherman%20Act
correct, United States
Record 9, Textual support, English
Record number: 9, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The Sherman Antitrust Act(Sherman Act), July 2, 1890, ch. 647, 26 Stat. 209, 15 U. S. C. & I was the first United States Federal statute to limit cartels and monopolies. It falls under antitrust law. The Act provides :"Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal". The Act also provides :"Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony... "The Act put responsibility upon government attorneys and district courts to pursue and investigate trusts, companies and organizations suspected of violating the Act. 1, record 9, English, - Sherman%20Antitrust%20Act
Record 9, French
Record 9, Domaine(s)
- Titres de lois et de règlements nationaux non canadiens
- Lois du marché (Économie)
- Doctrines, systèmes et politiques économiques
Record 9, Main entry term, French
- Sherman Antitrust Act
1, record 9, French, Sherman%20Antitrust%20Act
correct, feminine noun, United States
Record 9, Abbreviations, French
Record 9, Synonyms, French
Record 9, Textual support, French
Record number: 9, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Le Sherman Antitrust Act du 2 juillet 1890 est la première tentative du gouvernement américain de limiter les comportements anticoncurrentiels des entreprises : il signe ainsi la naissance du droit de la concurrence moderne. La loi américaine porte le nom du Sénateur John Sherman de l'Ohio qui s'éleva contre le pouvoir émergent de certaines entreprises constituées en quasi-monopoles : «Si nous refusons qu'un Roi gouverne notre pays, nous ne pouvons accepter qu'un Roi gouverne notre production, nos transports ou la vente de nos produits.». L'expression d'"anti-trust" vient du fait que la proposition de loi visait à contrer les agissements d'un groupe pétrolier, la Standard Oil, qui était constitué en "trust" et non sous la forme d'une société dont les droits étaient, à l'époque, limités. Ironiquement, lorsque la Standard Oil fut démantelée, elle avait pris déjà la forme d'une société et le Sherman Antitrust Act ne s'appliqua plus guère aux trusts. 1, record 9, French, - Sherman%20Antitrust%20Act
Record 9, Spanish
Record 9, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Títulos de leyes y reglamentos nacionales no canadienses
- Leyes del mercado (Economía)
- Doctrinas, políticas y sistemas económicos
Record 9, Main entry term, Spanish
- Ley Sherman Antitrust
1, record 9, Spanish, Ley%20Sherman%20Antitrust
correct, feminine noun, United States
Record 9, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 9, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 9, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 9, Textual support number: 1 OBS
La Ley Sherman Antitrust (en inglés, Sherman Antitrust Act), publicada el 2 de julio de 1890, fue la primera medida del Gobierno federal estadounidense para limitar los monopolios. El acta declaró ilegales los trust, por considerarlos restrictivos para el comercio internacional. Fue creada por el senador estadounidense John Sherman, de Ohio y aprobada por el presidente Benjamin Harrison. 1, record 9, Spanish, - Ley%20Sherman%20Antitrust
Record 10 - internal organization data 2006-09-22
Record 10, English
Record 10, Subject field(s)
- Law of Contracts (common law)
- Special-Language Phraseology
Record 10, Main entry term, English
- default on contract
1, record 10, English, default%20on%20contract
correct
Record 10, Abbreviations, English
Record 10, Synonyms, English
Record 10, Textual support, English
Record number: 10, Textual support number: 1 CONT
... independent illegal act-eg. steal tools from contractor that are essential to perform contract with third party, breach contract by supplier to cause purchaser to default on contract with sub-purchaser, proof of causation. 2, record 10, English, - default%20on%20contract
Record number: 10, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Your foreign buyer defaults on the contract that you have honoured because your buyer cannot, or will not, pay. 3, record 10, English, - default%20on%20contract
Record 10, French
Record 10, Domaine(s)
- Droit des contrats (common law)
- Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
Record 10, Main entry term, French
- manquer aux obligations contractuelles 1, record 10, French, manquer%20aux%20obligations%20contractuelles
Record 10, Abbreviations, French
Record 10, Synonyms, French
- se dérober aux obligations contractuelles 2, record 10, French, se%20d%C3%A9rober%20aux%20obligations%20contractuelles
Record 10, Textual support, French
Record 10, Key term(s)
- manquer à une obligation contractuelle
Record 10, Spanish
Record 10, Textual support, Spanish
Record 11 - internal organization data 2001-03-08
Record 11, English
Record 11, Subject field(s)
- Tort Law (common law)
Record 11, Main entry term, English
- inducement
1, record 11, English, inducement
correct
Record 11, Abbreviations, English
Record 11, Synonyms, English
- procurement 2, record 11, English, procurement
correct
Record 11, Textual support, English
Record number: 11, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A distinction is sometimes drawn between persuasion, inducement or procurement, on the one hand, and advice on the other: the former being actionable, but not the latter. Inducing a breach of contract, it is said, means to create a reason for breaking it, whereas advising a breach is merely to point out the reasons which already exist. 2, record 11, English, - inducement
Record number: 11, Textual support number: 2 CONT
A proposal or threat to institute legal proceedings, with a view to deterring a contracting party from performing his obligations which the intervener honestly and reasonably believes to be illegal, is not a wrongful procurement of a breach of contract.... 2, record 11, English, - inducement
Record 11, French
Record 11, Domaine(s)
- Droit des délits (common law)
Record 11, Main entry term, French
- incitation
1, record 11, French, incitation
correct, feminine noun
Record 11, Abbreviations, French
Record 11, Synonyms, French
Record 11, Textual support, French
Record number: 11, Textual support number: 1 OBS
incitation : Plus explicitement : incitation à un délit. 2, record 11, French, - incitation
Record 11, Spanish
Record 11, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Derecho de ilícitos civiles (common law)
Record 11, Main entry term, Spanish
- inducción
1, record 11, Spanish, inducci%C3%B3n
correct, feminine noun
Record 11, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 11, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 11, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 11, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Acción y efecto de inducir intencionadamente a una persona para que cometa un delito. 1, record 11, Spanish, - inducci%C3%B3n
Record 12 - internal organization data 2000-06-20
Record 12, English
Record 12, Subject field(s)
- Labour Relations
Record 12, Main entry term, English
- illegal contract
1, record 12, English, illegal%20contract
correct
Record 12, Abbreviations, English
Record 12, Synonyms, English
Record 12, Textual support, English
Record 12, French
Record 12, Domaine(s)
- Relations du travail
Record 12, Main entry term, French
- contrat illicite
1, record 12, French, contrat%20illicite
correct, masculine noun
Record 12, Abbreviations, French
Record 12, Synonyms, French
Record 12, Textual support, French
Record number: 12, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Commission des relations de travail dans la fonction publique. 1, record 12, French, - contrat%20illicite
Record 12, Spanish
Record 12, Textual support, Spanish
Record 13 - internal organization data 1975-03-11
Record 13, English
Record 13, Subject field(s)
- Collective Agreements and Bargaining
Record 13, Main entry term, English
- separability clause 1, record 13, English, separability%20clause
Record 13, Abbreviations, English
Record 13, Synonyms, English
Record 13, Textual support, English
Record number: 13, Textual support number: 1 OBS
--a contractual clause in an employer-union agreement protecting the validity of the remaining parts of the contract in the event that any part of the contract may be declared illegal. 1, record 13, English, - separability%20clause
Record 13, French
Record 13, Domaine(s)
- Conventions collectives et négociations
Record 13, Main entry term, French
- clause de séparation
1, record 13, French, clause%20de%20s%C3%A9paration
feminine noun
Record 13, Abbreviations, French
Record 13, Synonyms, French
Record 13, Textual support, French
Record number: 13, Textual support number: 1 OBS
--clause d'une convention collective prévoyant que, en cas d'invalidité d'une de ses parties, le reste du contrat continue à être valable. 1, record 13, French, - clause%20de%20s%C3%A9paration
Record 13, Spanish
Record 13, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


