Define: This Section
This Section is a cross-referencing term used within a contract to point to the specific clause, subsection, or provision in which the phrase itself is found. It ensures that any rights, obligations, or conditions described apply only to that particular part of the agreement, regardless of gender or number used in the drafting.
Legal accuracy standard set & glossary spot-checked by Imad Mohammed Nazar , Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Legal Engineer at GenieAI
What This Section Means in a Contract
The phrase "This Section" is a self-referential drafting device. When a contract uses it, the drafter is telling the reader that whatever rule, condition, or definition follows applies specifically and only to the subsection or clause in which the phrase appears, not to the entire agreement or to other unrelated provisions. It is a scoping tool, narrowing the reach of a sentence so that its legal effect is confined to a defined boundary within the document.
This kind of internal reference is common in longer, more structured agreements, particularly those with numbered clauses, subsections, and schedules. Rather than repeating the substantive text of a rule every time it needs to be invoked elsewhere, the drafter uses "This Section" to anchor meaning precisely where it belongs, reducing repetition while preserving clarity about scope.
How This Section Is Defined or Measured
There is no external legal standard that defines "This Section"; its meaning is entirely internal to the document in which it appears. Its scope is measured by the structural boundaries of the contract itself, typically the numbered or lettered subsection, paragraph, or clause immediately containing the phrase.
Contracts often include an interpretation or definitions clause clarifying that references to.
Relevant Circumstances
- Document drafting and review
- Legal due diligence
- Legal compliance