A contract which is enforceable by the courts is termed what?

A contract that is enforceable by the courts is referred to as valid. A valid contract has all the necessary elements required by law, including mutual consent, a lawful object, and consideration. This ensures that the terms can be upheld in a legal context, meaning that if one party does not fulfill their obligations, the other party can seek legal remedies.

While "binding," "legitimate," and "legal" all hint at certain aspects of contracts, they do not specifically address the enforceability aspect in the same way as "valid." A binding contract means that the parties are obligated to adhere to its terms, which implies validity but does not encompass the comprehensive legal framework required for enforceability. "Legitimate" generally refers to compliance with accepted standards or laws, and "legal" pertains to something that conforms to the law, but does not alone signify that a contract meets all criteria for enforceability in court.

Thus, the term "valid" is the most precise in indicating that a contract is both recognized by law and enforceable in a court of law.