noun
NDA
en-dee-AY
NDA (noun) means a non-disclosure agreement: a contract in which one or both parties promise not to reveal specified confidential information to anyone else. Example: “Every contractor has to sign an NDA before seeing the source code.”
noun
1
A non-disclosure agreement: a contract in which one or both parties promise not to reveal specified confidential information to anyone else.
"Every contractor has to sign an NDA before seeing the source code."
"She could not discuss the settlement because she was bound by an NDA."
How to use NDA
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA contract that legally stops you talking about something.
When to use it
Standard legal and business term, now common in journalism because of its use in employment disputes.
Memory tip
A mutual NDA binds both sides; a one-way, or unilateral, NDA binds only the party receiving the information.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
non-compete
confidentiality clause
gagging order
Common pairings
sign an NDA
bound by an NDA
break an NDA
mutual NDA
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Every contractor has to sign an _____ before seeing the source code.
Etymology
An initialism of non-disclosure agreement.
Synonyms
View more →
non-disclosure agreement
confidentiality agreement
gagging clause
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an NDA and a non-compete?
An NDA restricts what information you may share, and it can last indefinitely for genuine trade secrets. A non-compete restricts where you may work after leaving, usually for a limited period and area, and is unenforceable or heavily restricted in many jurisdictions.
What happens if you break an NDA?
The other party can sue for breach of contract and seek damages or an injunction stopping further disclosure, and an employee may also be dismissed. Courts will not, however, enforce an NDA that tries to conceal a crime or block a lawful report to a regulator.
What is the meaning of NDA?
"NDA" (noun) means a non-disclosure agreement: a contract in which one or both parties promise not to reveal specified confidential information to anyone else.
What is another word for NDA?
Other words for "NDA" include non-disclosure agreement, confidentiality agreement, gagging clause.
