Grant — in plain language
to formally give or transfer something to someone, such as property, rights, money, or permission
From a fixed, curated glossary of 7,257 legal terms. Not legal advice. How it's made: plainlanguage.us/trust
Plain language
to formally give or transfer something to someone, such as property, rights, money, or permission
- give
- transfer
- provide
- award
- bestow
What to watch for
- Grant can mean both the act of giving (verb) and the thing that was given (noun). In stock option contexts, 'the grant' refers to the shares awarded, not the act of awarding them.
- Non-lawyers often read 'grant' as only applying to large gifts or government funding, missing that it covers everyday transfers like property sales and employment benefits.
- In real estate, 'grant' is the legal mechanism of transfer, not just the result. A plain-language version should clarify that this is the formal legal act of transferring ownership.
- Government grants come with strings attached — they are not gifts. A plain-language translation should mention reporting requirements and compliance obligations.
Act vs. Thing Confusion. "Grant" works as both a verb (the act of giving) and a noun (the thing given). In stock option documents, "the grant" refers to the actual shares or options awarded. In real estate, it refers to the legal act of transferring property. The context determines which meaning applies.
What to Watch For.
- Stock option grants: The "grant" is the award itself — the shares or options that vest over time.
- Real estate grants: This is the legal mechanism that transfers ownership from one person to another.
- Government grants: These are not gifts — they come with detailed requirements for how the money must be spent and reported on.
Common Misunderstandings by Non-Lawyers.
- "A grant is always free money." (Government grants require detailed reporting and compliance; real estate grants typically involve payment.)
- "Grant just means 'give' — why use the fancy legal word?" (It specifically refers to the formal legal act of transferring rights or property, which has legal consequences.)
Legal definition
To formally give or transfer something to someone. This could be property, money, rights, permission, or any other valuable thing. In legal documents, "grant" describes the official act of making a transfer, whether that transfer involves payment or is given freely.
Meanings by context
securities law: The stock or stock options that someone receives as part of their compensation package.
government funding: Government money awarded to fund a specific project, usually with conditions about how it must be used.
Examples
Legal: The Company hereby grants to Employee 10,000 shares of restricted stock subject to the vesting schedule set forth herein.
Plain: The company gives the employee 10,000 shares of stock that will become fully theirs over time according to the schedule in this agreement.
Legal: Grant of Security Interest. Borrower hereby grants to Bank a security interest in all assets.
Plain: The borrower gives the bank a legal right to take and sell their assets if they fail to repay the loan as agreed.
Where you'll see it
- real estate deeds
- stock option agreements
- security agreements
- government contracts
- research funding awards
Related terms
- grantee
- grantor
- convey
- assign
- deed
- award
Word details
- Pronunciation
- grant
- Part of speech
- verb
- Origin
- Old French — from 'graanter' — to allow, permit, or bestow
- Domains
- contract law, real property, securities law, corporate law, administrative law
- Frequency
- very common
- Formality
- moderate
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