indemnify

[ in-dem-nuh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, in·dem·ni·fied, in·dem·ni·fy·ing.

1. to compensate for damage or loss sustained, expense incurred, etc.

   Synonyms: repay, reimburse, recompense

2. to guard or secure against anticipated loss; give security against (future damage or liability).

indemnify

/ ɪnˈdɛmnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to secure against future loss, damage, or liability; give security for; insure
2. to compensate for loss, injury, expense, etc; reimburse

Derived Forms

• inˈdemniˌfier, noun
• inˌdemnifiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• in·demni·fier noun
• prein·demni·fy verb (used with object) preindemnified preindemnifying
• unin·demni·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of indemnify¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin indemni(s) “without loss” ( indemnity ) + -fy

Example Sentences

"I'm going to indemnify all police officers and law enforcement officials throughout the United States to protect them from being destroyed by the radical left for taking strong actions on crime," Trump vowed.

From Salon

What you end up doing with that knowledge, we hereby indemnify ourselves of, formally.

From Los Angeles Times

The contractor agreed to indemnify the city, which didn’t directly contribute to the settlement sum, and Synagro.

From Seattle Times

I am also going to indemnify our police officers.

From Salon

In the case of policing, many state and local governments have laws in which they agree to indemnify police officers for lawsuits.

From New York Times

More About Indemnify

What does indemnify mean?

To indemnify is to insure someone against potential damages or loss or to compensate someone for damages or money spent.

Insurance coverage indemnifies a person by insuring them for certain potential situations, such as damages to their property from natural disasters or accidents. Indemnify is commonly used in legal contracts to secure protection against being sued or held responsible for an accident. The noun form of indemnify is indemnity, which refers to such protection and is often used in phrases like indemnity clause.

Example: The whole purpose of car insurance is to indemnify you in case you get into an accident—buying insurance after an accident happens won’t cover you.

Where does indemnify come from?

The first records of indemnify come from the 1600s. It comes from the Latin indemni(s), meaning “without loss.” This is formed from the prefix in-, which has a negating effect equivalent to un-, and demn-, from damnum, meaning “loss.”

Indemnify is most commonly used in the context of insurance and legal contracts. Insurance coverage indemnifies the policy holder, meaning it protects against financial liability for damages or loss. Damages refers to those that happen to a piece of property like a car or house, or to injuries suffered by a person. Loss refers to things like the loss of income one might experience because they can’t work. If a person is indemnified for these things, they get compensated for (at least part of) the money lost or spent.

In corporate law, an indemnity agreement can indemnify a company’s executives against personally being sued if the company is sued.

Indemnify is sometimes used in a metaphorical way to mean “to protect,” as in Your wealth will not indemnify you from disease.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to indemnify?

• indemnity (noun)
• indemnification (noun)
• indemnifier (noun)
• preindemnify (verb)
• indemnified (past tense verb, adjective)
• unindemnified (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with indemnify? 

 

• condemn
• damn

What are some words that often get used in discussing indemnify?

 

• clause
• contract
• agreement
• insurance
• loss
• damage
• protection
• compensate
• repay
• reimburse
• safeguard
• secure

How is indemnify used in real life?

Indemnify is most commonly used in a technical way in the context of insurance and legal contracts, but it is sometimes used in a metaphorical way.

NBA announces agreement with Sterling trust, calls off hearing. Rochelle Sterling agrees to indemnify league from lawsuit by husband.

— Scott Cacciola (@ScottCacciola) May 30, 2014

Security deposit is not rent. It is to indemnify the landlord. By NY law, the landlord must hold that money in escrow. So the landlord does not have access to those funds. This will kill small landlords.

— NYSkdiver (@NYSkdiver) March 25, 2020

Faith does not indemnify us in a crisis. It prepares me for who, what, and where I need to be in order to navigate this thing more effectively. 🙌🏾 Kem ya’ll

— Kyraa' † (@KyraLoveee) March 30, 2020

 

 

Try using indemnify!

Is indemnify used correctly in the following sentence? 

This coverage indemnifies you in the event of flooding.