Which doctrine enforces a promise despite lack of consideration when a reasonable reliance occurs?

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Promissory estoppel is the doctrine that enforces a promise even without consideration when someone reasonably relies on that promise to their detriment, in order to prevent injustice. The idea is that a clear, definite promise, made with the expectation that the other side will rely on it, can be binding if the reliance is reasonable and leads to a change in position or a loss should the promise be broken. Crucially, the promise does not need to be supported by consideration for enforcement under promissory estoppel; the focus is on preventing an unfair outcome from someone acting on the promise.

To satisfy this doctrine, the promisee’s reliance must be reasonable and foreseeable to the promisor, and the reliance must cause a detriment or substantial change in the promisee’s position. An everyday example is where one party promises a grant or gift, and the other party acts in reliance on that promise (investing time or money, or turning down other opportunities); to avoid injustice, the promisor may be held to the promise even though there was no consideration exchanged.

The other options don’t fit because they involve different doctrines: Mistake concerns incorrect beliefs about facts at the time of contracting; Duress involves coercive threats invalidating agreement; Illegality involves the contract pursuing an illegal purpose.