A promise made to refrain from an action is understood as what legal term?

Forbearance refers to the act of refraining from exercising a legal right or choosing not to engage in a certain action, often in the context of a legal agreement. In contractual law, forbearance can serve as a form of consideration, where one party agrees to refrain from doing something they are legally entitled to do, thereby providing value to the other party involved in the contract. This concept is crucial in understanding how parties can enter into enforceable agreements when one party provides something of value by agreeing not to act.

In the context of the question, identifying forbearance highlights its role as a specific legal term that captures the essence of a promise to refrain from acting, thereby establishing a clear understanding of how agreements can be formed based on non-action. It is essential to recognize that while consideration is central to contracts, forbearance specifically denotes the promise to not engage in certain actions, distinguishing it from other legal concepts like ratification or a valid contract.