indemnity

[ in-dem-ni-tee ]

noun

, plural in·dem·ni·ties.

1. protection or security against damage or loss.
2. compensation for damage or loss sustained.
3. something paid by way of such compensation.
4. protection, as by insurance, from liabilities or penalties incurred by one's actions.
5. legal exemption from penalties attaching to unconstitutional or illegal actions, granted to public officers and other persons.

indemnity

/ ɪnˈdɛmnɪtɪ /

noun

1. compensation for loss or damage; reimbursement
2. protection or insurance against future loss or damage
3. legal exemption from penalties or liabilities incurred through one's acts or defaults
4. (in Canada) the salary paid to a member of Parliament or of a legislature
5. act of indemnity
   an act of Parliament granting exemption to public officers from technical penalties that they may have been compelled to incur

Other Words From

• anti-in·demni·ty adjective
• prein·demni·ty noun plural preindemnities

Word History and Origins

Origin of indemnity¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English indem(p)nite, from Middle French indemnité, from Latin indemnitāt-, stem of indemnitās “security from financial loss”; in- ³, damn, -i-, -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of indemnity¹

C15: from Late Latin indemnitās, from indemnis uninjured, from Latin in- ¹+ damnum damage

Example Sentences

Under the so-called indemnity program, farms would receive up to $28,000 to protect workers and cover costs incurred treating and testing sick cows.

From New York Times

All GPs must have insurance known as GP indemnity to work in the UK.

From BBC

A state-backed indemnity scheme would bring Northern Ireland in line with GP practices in England and Wales, where all GPs and their staff received clinical negligence cover if they are providing NHS services.

From BBC

That was when four of the items were looted while the other three were part of an indemnity payment made by the Asante kingdom to the British, the museum said.

From Seattle Times

Gold indemnity objects were sent to London and sold through a Mayfair crown jeweler; a half-century later, some turned up at auction.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compensation
• repayment
• restitution

More About Indemnity

What does indemnity mean?

Indemnity is protection or security against damage or loss, or compensation for damages or money spent.

Insurance coverage provides indemnity to a person (or organization) by insuring them for certain potential situations, such as damages to their property from natural disasters or accidents. Indemnity is commonly used in legal contracts to secure protection against being sued or being held responsible for an accident. It’s often seen in the phrase indemnity clause.

The verb form of indemnity is indemnify, which means to provide such protection or security, typically in the form of insurance.

Outside the context of insurance, indemnity is sometimes used in a metaphorical way to mean protection, as in Your wealth does not provide indemnity from disease. 

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

Where does indemnity come from?

The first records of indemnity come from the 1400s. It comes from the Latin indemni(s), meaning “without loss” or “uninjured.” This is formed from the prefix in-, which has a negating effect equivalent to un-, and demn-, from damnum, meaning “loss.”

Indemnity is most commonly used in the context of insurance and legal contracts. Insurance coverage gives the policyholder indemnity, 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.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to indemnity?

• indemnify (verb)
• indemnitee (noun)
• indemnitor (noun)
• anti-indemnity (noun)
• preindemnity (noun)

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

 

• indemnification
• condemn
• damn

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

 

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

How is indemnity used in real life?

Indemnity 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.

Tomorrow we will be launching our first podcast episode on General Practice Indemnity. We're joined by Keira Moulds, Head of Primary Care @NHSEngland to look at what the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice means for beneficiaries. #GPIPodcast #ClinicalNegligence pic.twitter.com/5LZ2Y2s5AN

— NHSResolution (@NHSResolution) May 13, 2020

Agreement has been reached to allow redeployment of home carers to Nursing Homes – announced almost 4 wks ago. HSE has been working to resolve indemnity. Understood that Nursing Homes will extend indemnity once secondment agreement & employee declarations are signed @rtenews

— Ailbhe Conneely (@AilbheConneely) April 29, 2020

An in-depth look at the big source of Harry & Meghan’s funding: Prince Charles’ “private” estate — it enjoys sweeping tax relief, indemnity from laws that apply to others & extraordinary rights to be consulted on any legislation that affects its interests. https://t.co/3sH1vmg3qv

— Jane Bradley (@jane__bradley) January 26, 2020

 

 

Try using indemnity!

Is indemnity used correctly in the following sentence? 

This coverage provides indemnity for flooding.