estoppel
noun
es·top·pel
e-ˈstä-pəl 
: a legal bar to alleging or denying a fact because of one's own previous actions or words to the contrary
Examples of estoppel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The concept of 'judicial estoppel' thereby prevents parties from shifting arguments to gain advantage in different phases of a case.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Commercial, alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Handler is suing for breach of contract and promissory estoppel.
—Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE.com, 24 June 2022
So when exactly did the seller have to deliver the estoppel certificates to the buyer?
—Joshua Stein, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2021
Citing promissory estoppel, a doctrine that essentially legally enforces a promise, the court ruled in favor of Cosby.
—Areva Martin, CNN, 1 July 2021
According to the paper filed, Massenet is suing for breach of contract; fraud and intentional deceit; promissory estoppel, and intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
The court dismissed all claims against both the Eiflers except for those of promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment against Eifler Jr., which may be retried.
—Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2019
The players' second claim is for promissory estoppel.
—Michael McCann, SI.com, 12 July 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Commercial, alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Handler is suing for breach of contract and promissory estoppel.
—Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE.com, 24 June 2022
So when exactly did the seller have to deliver the estoppel certificates to the buyer?
—Joshua Stein, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2021
Citing promissory estoppel, a doctrine that essentially legally enforces a promise, the court ruled in favor of Cosby.
—Areva Martin, CNN, 1 July 2021
According to the paper filed, Massenet is suing for breach of contract; fraud and intentional deceit; promissory estoppel, and intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
The court dismissed all claims against both the Eiflers except for those of promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment against Eifler Jr., which may be retried.
—Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2019
The players' second claim is for promissory estoppel.
—Michael McCann, SI.com, 12 July 2018
Cite this Entry
“Estoppel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estoppel. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
estoppel
noun
es·top·pel
e-ˈstä-pəl
1
: a bar to the use of contradictory words or acts in asserting a claim or right against another
especially
: equitable estoppel in this entry compare waiver
—
equitable estoppel
: an estoppel that prevents a person from adopting a new position that contradicts a previous position maintained by words, silence, or actions when allowing the new position to be adopted would unfairly harm another person who has relied on the previous position to his or her loss
called also estoppel in pais
Note: Traditionally equitable estoppel required that the original position was a misrepresentation which was being denied in the new position. Some jurisdictions retain the requirement of misrepresentation.
—
estoppel by deed
: an estoppel precluding a person from denying the truth of any matter that he or she asserted in a deed especially regarding his or her title to the property compare after-acquired title at title
—
estoppel by silence
: an estoppel preventing a person from making an assertion to another's disadvantage when the person previously had the opportunity and duty to speak but failed to do so
—
estoppel in pais
: equitable estoppel in this entry
—
file wrapper estoppel
: an estoppel in patent law barring an applicant who has acquiesced in the rejection of a broad claim in the application for a patent from later asserting that a claim deliberately more restricted is equivalent to the original claim
called also prosecution history estoppel
—
promissory estoppel
: an estoppel that prevents a promisor from denying the existence of a promise when the promisee reasonably and foreseeably relies on the promise and to his or her loss acts or fails to act and suffers an injustice that can only be avoided by enforcement of the promise
—
prosecution history estoppel
: file wrapper estoppel in this entry
—
quasi estoppel
: an equitable estoppel that does not require misrepresentation by one party nor reliance or ignorance by the other party
2
a
: a bar to the relitigation of issues
—
collateral estoppel
: estoppel by judgment barring the relitigation of issues litigated by the same parties on a different cause of action
broadly
: estoppel by judgment barring the relitigation of issues litigated by the same parties on a different or the same cause of action
—
direct estoppel
: estoppel by judgment barring the relitigation of issues litigated by the same parties on the same cause of action
—
estoppel by judgment
: a bar to the relitigation in a second action of issues already determined in a previous action
especially
: collateral estoppel in this entry
called also estoppel by verdict, issue preclusion
see also former adjudication compare merger sense 4, res judicata
b
: the affirmative defense of estoppel
Etymology
probably from Middle French estoupail plug, stopper, from estouper to stop up see estop
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share