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Surefire: meaning, definitions and examples

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surefire

 

[ ˈʃʊrˌfaɪər ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

certainty, success

Surefire refers to something that is guaranteed to succeed or perform reliably. It implies a high level of assurance that a particular outcome will occur, often in the context of plans or methods that are expected to yield positive results.

Synonyms

certain, foolproof, guaranteed, reliable

Examples of usage

  • We have a surefire strategy for winning the game.
  • This recipe is a surefire way to impress your guests.
  • The salesman promised a surefire solution to our problems.

Translations

Translations of the word "surefire" in other languages:

🇵🇹 firme

🇮🇳 सुनिश्चित

🇩🇪 sicher

🇮🇩 pasti

🇺🇦 надійний

🇵🇱 pewny

🇯🇵 確実な

🇫🇷 sûr

🇪🇸 seguro

🇹🇷 kesin

🇰🇷 확실한

🇸🇦 مؤكد

🇨🇿 jistý

🇸🇰 istý

🇨🇳 确保的

🇸🇮 gotov

🇮🇸 viss

🇰🇿 негізгі

🇬🇪 დარწმუნებული

🇦🇿 əmin

🇲🇽 seguro

Etymology

The word 'surefire' is a compound of 'sure' and 'fire'. 'Sure' comes from the Old French 'surs' and Latin 'securus', meaning 'safe' or 'secure' and has been in use in the English language since the late Middle Ages. 'Fire', on the other hand, derives from the Proto-Germanic '*feuərə', which also means 'fire' and has a complex usage across various languages. The combination of these two elements suggests an outcome that is not only certain but also powerful or intense, as is often associated with fire. 'Surefire' began to be used in the early 20th century, particularly in contexts where success was assured, ranging from marketing tactics to effective practices in various fields.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,549, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.