Legal Definitions - earnest

Definition: A small payment or action that shows a person's serious intention to buy or do something.

Example 1: When buying a house, a buyer may give the seller a small amount of money as an earnest to show that they are serious about buying the house.

Example 2: A job applicant may send an email to the employer expressing their interest in the job and their willingness to come in for an interview as an earnest of their desire to work for the company.

The examples illustrate the definition of earnest by showing how a small payment or action can demonstrate a person's serious intention to follow through on a larger commitment. In both examples, the earnest serves as a sign of good faith and a pledge to continue with the transaction or process.