parol

UK: /ˈpærəl/, /pəˈrəʊl/ US: (pə rōl′, par′əl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pa•rol  (pə rōl′, par′əl), [Law.]
n. 

1. Law something stated or declared.
2. by parol, by word of mouth;
   orally.

adj. 

3. Law given by word of mouth;
   oral;
   not contained in documents:
   parol evidence.

• Vulgar Latin *paraula, syncopated variant of *paravola; Latin parabola parable; compare parley
• Anglo-French, Old French
• earlier parole 1470–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

parol / ˈpærəl pəˈrəʊl/ noun

1. an oral statement; word of mouth (now only in the phrase by parol)

adjective

1. (of a contract, lease, etc) made orally or in writing but not under seal
2. expressed or given by word of mouth: parol evidence

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French parole speech; see parole