surety

[ shoor-i-tee, shoor-tee, shur-i-tee, shur-tee ]
See synonyms for surety on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural sur·e·ties.
  1. security against loss or damage or for the fulfillment of an obligation, the payment of a debt, etc.; a pledge, guaranty, or bond.

  2. a person who is legally responsible for the debt, default, or delinquency of another.

  1. a person who, as a sponsor, godparent, etc., has assumed or accepted responsibility for another's debts or behavior.

  2. the state or quality of being sure.

  3. something that makes sure; ground of confidence or safety.

  4. assurance, especially self-assurance.

Origin of surety

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English surte from Middle French; Old French seurte from Latin sēcūritāt-, stem of sēcūritās security

Other words from surety

  • o·ver·sure·ty, noun
  • sub·sur·e·ty, noun, plural sub·sur·e·ties.

Words Nearby surety

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use surety in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for surety

surety

/ (ˈʃʊətɪ, ˈʃʊərɪtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
  1. a person who assumes legal responsibility for the fulfilment of another's debt or obligation and himself becomes liable if the other defaults

  2. security given against loss or damage or as a guarantee that an obligation will be met

  1. obsolete the quality or condition of being sure

  2. obsolete a means of assurance or safety

  3. stand surety to act as a surety

Origin of surety

1
C14: from Old French seurte, from Latin sēcūritās security

Derived forms of surety

  • suretyship, noun

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