How Do You Spell HOLD HARMLESS?

Pronunciation: [hˈə͡ʊld hˈɑːmləs] (IPA)

Hold harmless is a legal term that refers to protecting an individual or entity from any legal claims, damages or lawsuits that may arise from a particular situation. The phonetic transcription of this word in IPA is /hoʊld ˈhɑːrməs/. It is spelled as it sounds, with the "h" sound in hold and the "h" sound in harmless clearly pronounced. The word serves as a warning and risk allocation mechanism in contract law, stating that the party signing it will not hold the other party liable for any harm or loss.

HOLD HARMLESS Meaning and Definition

1. Hold harmless is a legal term that refers to a provision or agreement in which one party agrees to protect, defend, and indemnify another party against any potential claims, damages, liabilities, losses, or expenses that may arise from a particular activity, relationship, or obligation. Essentially, it is a contractual clause that transfers responsibility and liability from one party to another.

   When one party holds harmless another, they assume the legal responsibility for any future claims or damages that may occur as a result of a specified action. This means that if a claim is made against the party being held harmless, they are protected from financial or legal repercussions because the other party is obligated to assume the financial burden.

   The purpose of a hold harmless provision is to mitigate risk and protect one party from potential harm or liability. It is commonly found in contracts, agreements, or waivers related to professions, business transactions, leases, construction projects, and various other legal arrangements. Hold harmless clauses often outline the specific actions or circumstances for which protection is granted and may include requirements for providing notice, cooperating in the defense of claims, and maintaining insurance coverage.

   It is important to note that hold harmless agreements can vary in scope and enforceability depending on the jurisdiction and specific language used in the contract. It is advisable to consult with legal professionals when drafting or entering into hold harmless agreements to ensure clarity, fairness, and compliance with applicable laws.

Common Misspellings for HOLD HARMLESS

• gold harmless
• bold harmless
• nold harmless
• jold harmless
• uold harmless
• yold harmless
• hild harmless
• hkld harmless
• hlld harmless
• hpld harmless
• h0ld harmless
• h9ld harmless
• hokd harmless
• hopd harmless
• hood harmless
• hols harmless
• holx harmless
• holc harmless
• holf harmless
• holr harmless

Etymology of HOLD HARMLESS

The word "hold harmless" is a legal term that originated from English common law. The term is a combination of two separate words:

1. "Hold": The term "hold" in this context refers to the act of keeping or retaining something. It comes from the Old English word "haldan" which means "to hold, keep, or retain".

2. "Harmless": The term "harmless" means free from harm or risk. It is derived from the Old English word "harmleas", combining "harm" (meaning injury or damage) and "leas" (meaning without).

When "hold" and "harmless" are used together, "hold harmless" generally means to absolve or protect someone from any responsibility, liability, or legal claims resulting from an action or situation.