1. A legal principle that prevents a person from asserting a claim or right that contradicts a previous statement, action, or position they have taken, especially when another party has relied on that earlier position.
Usage: Legal/formal term; Plural of estoppel; Commonly used in contract law and litigation

Examples

• The court applied estoppels to prevent the defendant from denying the contract he had previously acknowledged in writing.
• Promissory estoppels can arise when one party makes a promise and another party relies on it to their detriment.
• The plaintiff argued that estoppels should bar the defendant from changing his story after the witness had already testified.
• Equitable estoppels protect parties who have reasonably relied on another's conduct or representation.
• The judge ruled that multiple estoppels applied, making it impossible for the company to reverse its earlier commitments.