surety

[ shoor-i-tee, shoor-tee, shur-i-tee, shur-tee ]

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.
3. a person who, as a sponsor, godparent, etc., has assumed or accepted responsibility for another's debts or behavior.
4. the state or quality of being sure.
5. certainty.
6. something that makes sure; ground of confidence or safety.
7. assurance, especially self-assurance.

surety

/ ˈʃʊətɪ; ˈʃʊərɪtɪ /

noun

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
3. obsolete.
   the quality or condition of being sure
4. obsolete.
   a means of assurance or safety
5. stand surety
   to act as a surety

Derived Forms

• ˈsuretyˌship, noun

Other Words From

• o·ver·sure·ty noun
• sub·sur·e·ty noun plural subsureties

Word History and Origins

Origin of surety¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of surety¹

C14: from Old French seurte, from Latin sēcūritās security

Example Sentences

Even while what is depicted onscreen veers wildly out of control, there is a sense of surety to the filmmaking that makes this one of the freshest movies of the year.

From Los Angeles Times

The only surety we have about our post–Election Day world is that it’ll be something that’s already happened before.

From Slate

While Lim’s mature eloquence was never in question, the surety and exquisite beauty of his playing in impressive display, his was a perfectionist performance of getting everything to work just right.

From Los Angeles Times

“Governments are attempting to give surety, that this is a long-term supply deal,” he says.

From BBC

The guild took the rare step of placing Small and a company he controls, Fifty Feet Movie LLC, on its WGA Strike/Unfair List after Small failed to post a surety bond on a movie project, according to a WGA advisory sent to members Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times