Accord vs. Agreement: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Accord" is a formal agreement, often between nations or large organizations, while "Agreement" is a general term for any understanding or arrangement between parties.
Key Differences
Accord often implies a mutual understanding or harmony, not always formalized, whereas Agreement typically refers to a formally documented or contractually stipulated arrangement between parties.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Accord can emerge spontaneously or informally among individuals or groups, often reflecting a shared perspective or consensus. In contrast, Agreement usually results from negotiation or deliberate discussion, aiming for a legally binding understanding.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Accord might not have legal enforceability; it's more about voluntary compliance based on shared values or interests. On the other hand, Agreement is generally a binding contract, enforceable by law.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Accord is often used in diplomatic or international contexts, suggesting a more amicable and consensus-based approach. Conversely, Agreement is a broader term used in various contexts, including legal, business, and personal relationships.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
In essence, Accord emphasizes the harmonious aspect of an understanding, while Agreement underscores the formal, often legal nature of a commitment or arrangement.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Formality
Often informal or based on mutual understanding.
Usually formal and legally binding.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Documentation
May not be documented.
Typically documented and legally enforceable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Context
Common in diplomatic or consensus-building settings.
Broad usage in legal, business, personal contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Binding Nature
Not necessarily legally binding.
Legally binding and enforceable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Implication
Implies harmony or voluntary compliance.
Indicates a formal arrangement or contract.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Accord and Agreement Definitions
Accord
Harmonious Agreement
Parties reached an accord on environmental policies.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Agreement
Contractual Arrangement
The business partners signed a formal agreement.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Accord
Voluntary Compliance
He acted in accord with the committee's decision.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Agreement
Mutual Understanding
They reached an agreement on the project's scope.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Accord
Diplomatic Understanding
The nations entered into an accord to promote peace.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 25, 2023
Accord
To give or grant, especially as being due or appropriate
Accorded the president the proper deference.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
Harmony of opinion; accord
Since we are all in agreement, let's proceed.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
An arrangement between parties, usually resulting from a discussion, regarding a course of action.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
A settlement or compromise between conflicting parties
The strikers and the owners reached an accord.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Spontaneous or voluntary desire to take a certain action
The children returned on their own accord. He confessed of his own accord.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
(Grammar) Correspondence in gender, number, case, or person between words.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
(countable) An understanding between entities to follow a specific course of conduct.
To enter an agreement;
The UK and US negotiators nearing agreement;
He nodded his agreement.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
(uncountable) A state whereby several parties share a view or opinion; the state of not contradicting one another.
The results of my experiment are in agreement with those of Michelson and with the law of General Relativity.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Agreement or harmony of things in general.
The accord of light and shade in painting
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
Rules that exist in many languages that force some parts of a sentence to be used or inflected differently depending on certain attributes of other parts.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
(legal) An agreement between parties in controversy, by which satisfaction for an injury is stipulated, and which, when executed, prevents a lawsuit.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
(international law) An international agreement.
The Geneva Accord of 1954 ended the French-Indochinese War.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
State of agreeing; harmony of opinion, statement, action, or character; concurrence; concord; conformity; as, a good agreement subsists among the members of the council.
What agreement hath the temple of God with idols ?
Expansion and duration have this further agreement.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
Concord or correspondence of one word with another in gender, number, case, or person.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Voluntary or spontaneous impulse to act.
Nobody told me to do it. I did it of my own accord.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
A concurrence in an engagement that something shall be done or omitted; an exchange of promises; mutual understanding, arrangement, or stipulation; a contract.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
(transitive) To make to agree or correspond; to suit one thing to another; to adjust.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
The statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises;
They had an agreement that they would not interfere in each other's business
There was an understanding between management and the workers
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
(transitive) To bring (people) to an agreement; to reconcile, settle, adjust or harmonize.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
Compatibility of observations;
There was no agreement between theory and measurement
The results of two tests were in correspondence
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
(intransitive) To agree or correspond; to be in harmony; to be concordant.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
Harmony of people's opinions or actions or characters;
The two parties were in agreement
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
The thing arranged or agreed to;
They made arrangements to meet in Chicago
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Agreement
The determination of grammatical inflection on the basis of word relations
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action; harmony of mind; consent; assent.
A mediator of an accord and peace between them.
These all continued with one accord in prayer.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Harmony of sounds; agreement in pitch and tone; concord; as, the accord of tones.
Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Agreement, harmony, or just correspondence of things; as, the accord of light and shade in painting.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Voluntary or spontaneous motion or impulse to act; - preceded by own; as, of one's own accord.
That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap.
Of his own accord he went unto you.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
An agreement between parties in controversy, by which satisfaction for an injury is stipulated, and which, when executed, bars a suit.
They rushed with one accord into the theater.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
To make to agree or correspond; to suit one thing to another; to adjust; - followed by to.
Her hands accorded the lute's music to the voice.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
To bring to an agreement, as persons; to reconcile; to settle, adjust, harmonize, or compose, as things; as, to accord suits or controversies.
When they were accorded from the fray.
All which particulars, being confessedly knotty and difficult can never be accorded but by a competent stock of critical learning.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
To grant as suitable or proper; to concede; to award; as, to accord to one due praise.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
To agree; to correspond; to be in harmony; - followed by with, formerly also by to; as, his disposition accords with his looks.
My heart accordeth with my tongue.
Thy actions to thy words accord.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Accord
Harmony of people's opinions or actions or characters;
The two parties were in agreement
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does agreement mean?
A formal, often documented arrangement between parties.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is an accord legally binding?
Not necessarily; it can be more about voluntary compliance.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
How is accord used in international relations?
As a diplomatic understanding or consensus among nations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can an agreement be informal?
Usually, agreements are formal and legally enforceable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is accord synonymous with agreement?
Not exactly; accord implies harmony, while agreement is more formal.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can an agreement be verbal?
Yes, but written agreements are more enforceable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can a business contract be an accord?
It's more accurately described as an agreement.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is a treaty an accord or an agreement?
It can be both, but it's usually a formal agreement.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Do all accords require documentation?
No, some accords are based on mutual understanding.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can accords be broken like agreements?
Yes, but legal consequences are more associated with agreements.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Are agreements always legally binding?
Typically, but it depends on the context and terms.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can an individual act in accord with something?
Yes, it means acting in harmony with a decision or principle.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can an accord lead to a formal agreement?
Yes, initial understanding (accord) can evolve into a formal agreement.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Can an accord exist without explicit communication?
Yes, it can be based on implied understanding.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is a memorandum of understanding an accord or agreement?
It's a type of formal agreement, often preceding a contract.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Is a handshake deal an agreement or accord?
It's an informal agreement, sometimes resembling an accord.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Do agreements need witnesses or notarization?
It depends on the legal requirements of the context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Are verbal agreements as strong as written ones?
Generally, written agreements hold more legal weight.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 07, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Dua Fatima
Hifza Nasir
