Standard Lemma guide

hypothecate

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /haɪˈpɒθɪkeɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To pledge (something) as surety for a loan; to pawn, mortgage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To designate a new tax or tax increase for a specific expenditure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Topics: government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To designate in advance the specific purpose of expenditure for government revenues (especially taxes).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia

Examples

  • "Levying customs duties and excises on necessities also ensured a relatively secure source of revenue. Revenues were generally hypothecated in an attempt to draw support from the public, for example funding an orphanage, gaol, hospital equipment and building works around Sydney." A brief history of Australia's tax system; Sam Reinhardt and Lee Steel; 04 September 2006

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: speculate, theorize, theorise, conjecture, hypothesize, hypothesise, suppose

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expect, anticipate

Narrower terms: reconstruct, construct, retrace, explicate, formulate, develop

5

verb

Meaning 5

pledge without delivery or title of possession

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pledge

History

Etymology

From Latin hypothecatus, past participle of hypotheco, hypothecare. This was in turn derived from Ancient Greek ὑποθήκη (hupothḗkē, “pledge”), from the verb ὑποτίθημι (hupotíthēmi, “to pledge as surety”).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ипотекирам (ipotekiram) — pledge as surety
  • French: hypothéquer — pledge as surety
  • German: verpfänden — pledge as surety
  • German: beleihen — pledge as surety
  • Icelandic: veðsetja — pledge as surety
  • Italian: ipotecare — pledge as surety
  • Spanish: hipotecar — pledge as surety