Contract 與 Agreement ，在英語翻譯中合同一般稱為 Contract ，協議一般稱為 Agreement 。
 何謂“ contract ” ?
1999 年中國《合同法》第二條對 contract 定義為： A contact in this Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is, between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations ”。根據這一定義，合同平等主體之間設立的確定民事權利和義務的協議。
Steven H. Gifts 編著的“ Law Dictionary ”中將 contract 定義為“ contract is a promise, or a set of promises, for breach of which the law gives remedy, or the performance of the which the law in some way recognize as a duty. ”根據這一定義，合同是一種承諾，違反承諾可以得到法律救助，某種意義上法律將履行該承諾看做是一種補償。
L.B Curzon 在其編撰的字典“ A Dictionary of Law ”給 contract 的定義：“ Contract is a legally binding agreement ”根據這一定義，合同就是有法律約束力的協議。
綜合起來，有一個相同點，就是“ Contract is an agreement ”，即可將合同說成是“ An agreement which binds the parties concerned ”或者說合同說成是“ An agreement which is enforceable by law ”， 也可以說： Contracts are promises that the law will enforce 。
何謂“ Agreement ” ?
L.B “A consensus of mind, or evidence of such consensus, in spoke or written form, relating to anything done or to be done.” 根據這一定義，協議是對已經做或準備做的相關事宜，經過談判、協商后取得一致意見，以口頭或書面形式做出的約定。
Black "Law Dictionary" 有兩個定義。一個是：“ A concord of understanding and intention between two or more parties with respect to the effect upon their relative rights and duties, of certain past or future facts or performance ”根據這一定義，協議即雙方或多方京某些過去或將來某些事實的相關權利、義務或相關權利、義務的履行而達成的一致理解和愿望。
另一個是：“ The consent of two or more persons concurring respecting the transmission of some property, right or benefits, with the view of contacting an obligation, a mutual obligation. ”根據這一定義，協議即兩個或多個當事人，為了約定單方責任或相互責任，就財產權利、利益的轉移取得的一致同意。
Contract( 合同 ) 和 Agreement( 協議 ) 是不是可以互換呢？合同的成立必須具備幾個主要因素。它們（要約和承諾構成的）協議、約因、設立法律關系的愿望和締約能力四大部分組成。

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