WorldJuly 14, 2026

bindingness

/ˈbaɪndɪŋnəs/

Definition

The state or quality of having legal authority that compels compliance, creating an obligation that cannot be legally ignored or set aside.

Etymology

Derived from the Old English 'bindan' meaning 'to tie up or fasten,' combined with the suffix '-ing' and the Germanic noun-forming suffix '-ness.' It evolved to describe the power of a rule or agreement to hold someone to an obligation.

In the news

In this article, the term is used to discuss whether an International Court of Justice opinion exerts a mandatory legal force upon the European Investment Bank. It highlights the debate over whether international rulings must be treated as obligatory by the bank's decision-makers.

The European Investment Bank’s €1 billion lending operations to U.N. blacklisted enterprises in Israel

Read the full article ↗

Opinio Juris

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