letter of intent
letter of intent — noun
1. a document that two people, companies, or organisations sign before they write a
a document that two people, companies, or organisations sign before they write a final contract, showing that they agree on the basic goals and wish to continue negotiating toward a formal agreement
Beatrix's firm signed a letter of intent to buy the software company for eight million dollars.
letter of intent + to-infinitive (purpose clause)
The shopping mall developer submitted a letter of intent for the lease of the ground floor.
letter of intent + for + noun phrase (subject matter)
Marta and her partner drafted a letter of intent for three weeks before hiring a lawyer.
No party is legally bound until the final contract is signed, even after a letter of intent.
- memorandum of understanding
a broader, often more detailed document used in international or government agreements; slightly more formal than LOI
- term sheet
a shorter, bullet-point-style document that lists the key financial terms; used especially in startup fundraising
- heads of agreement
Commonwealth term for a similar preliminary document; often interchangeable with LOI in UK and Australian contexts
- final contract
a legally binding agreement, unlike a letter of intent which is typically non-binding
- non-disclosure agreement
a legally binding confidentiality contract signed before or alongside an LOI, with opposite legal force
文法句型
letter of intent + to-infinitive
letter of intent + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a to-infinitive clause ('letter of intent to acquire') or a for-phrase ('letter of intent for the merger'), both specifying the planned action. Unlike a formal contract, a letter of intent is often non-binding — the parties usually include a clause stating their intention is not legally enforceable.