underwrite

American  

[uhn-der-rahyt, uhn-der-rahyt] / ˌʌn dərˈraɪt, ˈʌn dərˌraɪt /

verb (used with object)

underwrote, underwritten, underwriting

1. to write under or at the foot of, especially under other written matter.

2. to sign one's name, as to a document.

3. to show agreement with or to support by or as if by signing one's name to, as a statement or decision.

4. to bind oneself to contribute a sum of money to (an undertaking).

   Wealthy music lovers underwrote the experimental concerts.

5. to guarantee the sale of (a security issue to be offered to the public for subscription).

6. Insurance.

   1. to write one's name at the end of (a policy), thereby becoming liable in case of certain losses specified in the policy.

   2. to insure.

   3. to assume liability to the extent of (a specified sum) by way of insurance.

   4. to select or rate (risks) for insurance.

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verb (used without object)

underwrote, underwritten, underwriting

1. to underwrite something.

2. to carry on the business of an underwriter.

underwrite British  

/ ˌʌndəˈraɪt, ˈʊndəˌraɪt /

verb

1. finance to undertake to purchase at an agreed price any unsold portion of (a public issue of shares, etc)

2. to accept financial responsibility for (a commercial project or enterprise)

3. insurance

   1. to sign and issue (an insurance policy) thus accepting liability if specified losses occur

   2. to insure (a property or risk)

   3. to accept liability up to (a specified amount) in an insurance policy

4. to write (words, a signature, etc) beneath (other written matter); subscribe

5. to support or concur with (a decision, statement, etc) by or as if by signature

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Etymology

Origin of underwrite

First recorded before 1400–50; late Middle English, translation of Latin subscrībere “to write underneath, sign, subscribe”; see origin at subscribe

Explanation

To underwrite is to insure or promise to be financially responsible in case of loss or damage. An insurance agent can underwrite your renter's insurance policy, which protects you if there's a fire or robbery, for example. Insurance companies can underwrite, estimating the value of a life or property, and so can large banks — when a bank underwrites a loan, it means they carefully check the borrower's credit history. The word underwrite comes from the Old English underwritan, "write at the foot of," and originally is exactly what underwriters did, signing their names at the bottom of an assessment of risk, promising to pay in case of disaster in exchange for a set amount of money.

Example Sentences

Lindbergh knew a man with the wealth, vision and courage to underwrite Goddard’s project—Daniel Guggenheim, Harry’s father.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Australia's national parliament on Monday introduced a bill to give powers to the government to underwrite the purchase of shiploads of fuel that will add to supply in Australia.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Enter the Mortgage Bankers Association, which is lobbying the Administration to let lenders underwrite mortgages based on a single credit report.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

As public funding for higher education has eroded, universities have increasingly turned to wealthy donors to underwrite major projects and supplement budgets by endowing professorships and research centers.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

It is not books as physical objects that are required to underwrite the fact; it is sources that don’t alter and change from one day to the next, of which books remain the clearest manifestation.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• approve
• bankroll
• finance
• guarantee
• provide
• secure
• sponsor
• subsidize