noun
Meaning 1
Certainty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
surety
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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ˈʃɔːɹɪti/ pour–poor merger
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/ˈʃʊəɹɪti/ without the pour–poor merger
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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General-American: /ˈʃʊɹəti/
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General-American: /ˈʃʊəɹəti/
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CMU ARPABET: SH UH1 R AH0 T IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
That which makes sure; that which confirms; ground of confidence or security.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A promise to pay a sum of money in the event that another person fails to fulfill an obligation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
One who undertakes to pay money or perform other acts in the event that his principal fails therein.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: suretor
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A substitute; a hostage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
Evidence; confirmation; warrant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
something clearly established
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: certainty, sure thing, foregone conclusion
noun
Meaning 8
a guarantee that an obligation will be met
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: security
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: guarantee, warrant, warrantee, warranty
noun
Meaning 9
one who provides a warrant or guarantee to another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: guarantor, warrantor, warranter
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: patron, sponsor, supporter
noun
Meaning 10
a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hostage
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prisoner, captive
noun
Meaning 11
property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- bankers are reluctant to lend without good security
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: security
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: transferred property, transferred possession
Narrower terms: deposit, earnest, recognizance, recognisance, warrant, stock warrant, stock-purchase warrant
History
Etymology
From Middle English surete, attested since the early 1300s in the sense "guarantee, promise, pledge, assurance", from Anglo-Norman seurté/Old French seurté with the same meaning (whence modern French sûreté), from Latin sēcūritās. Equivalent to sure + -ty. The senses "security, safety, stability" and "certainty" are attested since the late 1300s. "One who undertakes to pay if another does not" is from the early 1400s. Doublet of security.
Across languages
Translations
37 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Dutch: borgtocht — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Finnish: takaus — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- French: cautionnement — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- German: Bürgschaft — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Ancient Greek: ῥύσιον (rhúsion) — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Hungarian: (készfizető/készpénzfizető) kezesség — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Hungarian: jótállás — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Italian: fideiussione — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Korean: 보증 (bojeung) — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Latin: vas — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Middle English: borwe — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Portuguese: caução — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Russian: пору́ка (porúka) — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Spanish: fianza — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Swedish: borgen — law: promise to pay on behalf of another
- Bulgarian: поръчител (porǎčitel) — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Dutch: borg — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Dutch: borgsteller — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Finnish: takaaja — law: one who undertakes such promise
- French: caution — law: one who undertakes such promise
- German: Bürge — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Ancient Greek: βεβαιωτής (bebaiōtḗs) — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Hungarian: kezes — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Hungarian: készfizető kezes — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Hungarian: készpénzfizető kezes — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Irish: urra — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Italian: fideiussore — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Latin: fidēiussor — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Middle English: borwe — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Polish: poręczyciel — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Portuguese: fiador — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Russian: поручитель (poručitelʹ) — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Spanish: fiador — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Swedish: borgensman — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Welsh: mechnïwr — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Welsh: mechnïydd — law: one who undertakes such promise
- Esperanto: garantiulo — substitute; hostage