BusinessAugust 20, 2026

boilerplate

BOY-ler-playt

Definition

Standardized, formulaic, or repetitive legal or financial text that is frequently copied and reused in multiple documents without significant modification.

Etymology

Originating in the late 19th century, the term referred to the thick metal plates used to build steam boilers. It shifted to journalism and law to describe standardized text that could be 'stamped out' just like the metal plates.

In the news

The article warns against overusing boilerplate risk language because AI tools can easily detect generic or hedging disclosures that lack specific, meaningful context.

10 AI-Friendly Drafting Pointers for Earnings Release Drafters

Read the full article ↗

Lexology

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