What does NDA stand for?

NDA stands for Non-Disclosure Agreement. It is a legal contract that requires one or more parties to keep certain information confidential and not share it with the public or unauthorized individuals.

Why do tech companies require NDAs?

Tech companies use NDAs to protect sensitive business information including unreleased products, proprietary code, trade secrets, financial data, and strategic plans. This protection gives the company a competitive advantage and prevents competitors from accessing valuable information.

What happens if I violate an NDA?

Violating an NDA can result in serious consequences including legal action, financial penalties, lawsuits, and damage to your professional reputation. Companies can sue for damages if confidential information is disclosed without authorization.

Can I talk about my work after leaving the company?

It depends on the NDA terms. Most NDAs restrict disclosure of confidential information for a specific period (often 2-5 years after employment ends). You can usually discuss general responsibilities and non-confidential aspects of your job, but not proprietary details.

Is an NDA the same as a non-compete agreement?

No. An NDA prevents sharing confidential information. A non-compete agreement prevents you from working for competitors for a specified period. Companies often require both agreements from employees.

NDA meaning in tech — Speak Tech English

Commonness	5/5
Versatility	4/5
Formality	CasualFormalFormal
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticDirect
Region	US and UK

Say it like this

✓I cannot discuss the details because I signed an NDA.

✓You will need to sign an NDA before we show you the prototype.

✓That is protected under NDA, so I cannot share it with you.

Real examples

in a standup meeting

"I cannot share specific details about the next release due to NDA restrictions."

during onboarding

"Before you access the codebase, please review and sign this NDA."

in a job interview

"All employees here are required to sign an NDA to protect our intellectual property."

Don't say this

Handle with care. NDA is a legal agreement, not an action verb. Do not say 'we NDA this' or 'let us NDA it.' Use phrases like 'sign an NDA' or 'require an NDA.'

✕We need to NDA this code before pushing it.

✓We need to protect this code under an NDA before sharing it.— NDA is a noun (an agreement), not a verb. You sign an NDA; you do not NDA something.

✕The NDA prevents me from speaking about the project.

✓The NDA prohibits me from discussing the project publicly.— While technically correct, 'prohibits' is more precise legal language; 'prevents' is less formal but acceptable.

✕I broke my NDA by telling my friend.

✓I violated my NDA by telling my friend.— Violate is the standard legal term; broke is too casual for discussing legal agreements.

Other forms

noun

NDA

"I signed an NDA on my first day at the company."

noun

Non-Disclosure Agreement

"The Non-Disclosure Agreement outlines what information is confidential."

Often used with

sign an NDAThe most common phrase; means to agree legally to the terms of the agreement.

under NDAUsed to describe information or discussions that are covered by a non-disclosure agreement.

violate an NDATo break the legal agreement by sharing confidential information.

bound by an NDALegally obligated to follow the terms of the agreement.

NDA restrictionsThe limitations or rules set by the non-disclosure agreement.

Similar words

confidentiality agreementA broader term that includes NDAs; sometimes used interchangeably but may cover additional confidentiality obligations.

non-compete agreementDifferent agreement that restricts working for competitors; often used alongside an NDA.

Opposites

public informationopen source

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Complete the sentence

1. Before I can access the unreleased features, I need to _______ an NDA.

Spot the mistake

2. Which sentence uses NDA correctly?

I cannot share this information because I NDAs it.I cannot share this information because I am bound by an NDA.We should NDA the design document before the meeting.Let us NDA this conversation with confidentiality.

Pick the most natural phrasing

3. How would a tech professional most naturally explain why they cannot discuss a project?

I cannot discuss it because of NDA.I cannot discuss it because I am bound by an NDA.That topic is covered under NDA.I must NDA that information.

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English: 'The legal agreement about keeping secrets prevents me from telling you about the new feature.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "nda" in a standup this week?

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