material breach
Agreement's fatal flaw
A material breach is a failure to perform a contractual obligation so significant that it defeats the purpose of the agreement.
Unlike minor breaches, a material breach allows the injured party to terminate the contract and seek damages: The landlord's refusal to make repairs constituted a material breach of the lease.
Courts consider factors like the extent of non-performance and whether the aggrieved party received substantially what they bargained for.
Preset standard option
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- violationBreaking of rules
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
- nonperformanceFailure to fulfill obligation
rescission · termination · damages · remedies · cure period · notice · liability · indemnity
Of notable size or importance
- fundamentalForming the base
- seriousWeighty and requiring attention
- significantHaving notable importance
- essentialFundamentally necessary
major · critical · incurable · irreparable · egregious · willful · intentional · negligent
default
Preset standard option
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- violationBreaking of rules
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
nonperformance · rescission · termination · damages · remedies · cure period · notice · liability · indemnity · injunction
substantial
Of notable size or importance
- fundamentalForming the base
- seriousWeighty and requiring attention
- significantHaving notable importance
essential · major · critical · incurable · irreparable · egregious · willful · intentional · negligent · consequential
- contractsbinding contracts, contract length, lease, clause, contract terms
- contract termscontract terms, agreement, terms, conditions, condition
- contract lawobligation, performance, capacity, contract terms, consideration
- contract breachnon-performance, repudiation, violation, broken promise, non-delivery
- contract breachesnon-performance, repudiation, noncompliance
- contract dischargedischarge, novation, rescission, termination, performance
material, breach, materials, materialize, immaterial, materially, materialized, materiality, materializes