Surety: meaning, definitions and examples

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surety

 

[ ˈʃʊrɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal

The state of being sure or certain of something; confidence. A formal engagement or promise, a pledge, a bond.

Synonyms

assurance, certainty, guarantee.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
surety

Used in legal or financial contexts to refer to a person or entity that takes responsibility for another's performance, such as paying a debt.

  • The bank required a surety before giving out the loan.
  • She acted as a surety for her brother's bail.
certainty

Used to express something that is definite or has no doubt, often in general or abstract terms.

  • There is a certainty that the sun will rise tomorrow.
  • She spoke with certainty about her decision.
guarantee

Often used in commercial or contractual contexts to promise that something will happen or a product will perform as expected; also used to assure someone of something strongly.

  • The store offers a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your purchase.
  • I guarantee you will enjoy this movie.
assurance

Commonly used to express a feeling of confidence or certainty, often to make others feel confident or to confirm something positively.

  • He gave his assurance that the project would be completed on time.
  • The company's assurance of quality helped build customer trust.

Examples of usage

  • He provided surety for the accused person's bail.
  • The surety of her smile reassured him.
Context #2 | Noun

finance

A person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example, their appearing in court or the payment of a debt.

Synonyms

bond, cosigner, guarantor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
surety

Typically used in legal and financial settings to refer to a person or entity that assumes responsibility for another's performance, usually related to a contract or a loan.

  • The company acted as a surety for the construction project.
  • He was released on bail after his surety was approved by the court.
guarantor

Refers to a person or entity that provides a formal assurance, often financial, to take responsibility for another's debt or obligation if the latter fails to meet their commitments.

  • The landlord required a guarantor before finalizing the lease agreement.
  • He was nervous about becoming a guarantor for his friend's business loan.
cosigner

Used in financial contexts where an additional person signs a loan agreement to guarantee repayment if the primary borrower defaults.

  • She needed a cosigner to qualify for the student loan.
  • His father agreed to be the cosigner on his car loan.
bond

Commonly used to refer to a financial instrument or agreement where one party guarantees to pay a certain amount of money to another, often in the context of bail or investment. It can also mean a physical or emotional connection between people.

  • They had to post a bond to ensure their appearance in court.
  • He invested in government bonds to diversify his portfolio.
  • There was a strong bond between the brothers.

Examples of usage

  • The bank required a surety before granting the loan.
  • He acted as a surety for his friend's business dealings.

Translations

Translations of the word "surety" in other languages:

🇵🇹 caução

🇮🇳 गारंटी

🇩🇪 Bürgschaft

🇮🇩 jaminan

🇺🇦 застава

🇵🇱 kaucja

🇯🇵 保証

🇫🇷 caution

🇪🇸 fianza

🇹🇷 kefalet

🇰🇷 보증

🇸🇦 ضمان

🇨🇿 kauce

🇸🇰 kaucia

🇨🇳 担保

🇸🇮 kavcija

🇮🇸 trygging

🇰🇿 кепілдік

🇬🇪 უზრუნველყოფა

🇦🇿 zəmanət

🇲🇽 fianza

Etymology

The word 'surety' originated from Middle English 'seurte' and Old French 'seurte', both of which meant a guarantee or pledge. The concept of surety has been prevalent in legal and financial contexts for centuries, with its roots in the idea of providing assurance or security for an obligation. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass various forms of guarantees and pledges in different fields.

See also: assure, ensure, insure, surely, sureness, unsure.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,333 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.