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guarantee

[gar-uh n-tee]
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noun
  1. a promise or assurance, especially one in writing, that something is of specified quality, content, benefit, etc., or that it will perform satisfactorily for a given length of time: a money-back guarantee.
  2. an assurance that another’s obligation will be fulfilled, or something presented as such security; guaranty(defs 1, 2).
  3. something that assures a particular outcome or condition: Wealth is no guarantee of happiness.
  4. a person who gives a guarantee or guaranty; guarantor.
  5. a person to whom a guarantee is made.
verb (used with object), guar·an·teed, guar·an·tee·ing.
  1. to secure, as by giving or taking security: A credit card guarantees your reservation at the hotel.
  2. to make oneself answerable for (something) on behalf of someone else who is primarily responsible: to guarantee the fulfillment of a contract.
  3. to undertake to ensure for another, as rights or possessions: The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
  4. to serve as a warrant or guaranty for.
  5. to undertake to protect or indemnify: to guarantee a person against loss.
  6. to undertake (to do something): I will guarantee to prove every word I stated.
  7. to promise (usually followed by a clause as object): I guarantee that I'll be there.

Origin of guarantee

First recorded in 1670–80; alteration of guaranty
Related formsnon·guar·an·tee, nounpre·guar·an·tee, noun, verb (used with object), pre·guar·an·teed, pre·guar·an·tee·ing.qua·si-guar·an·teed, adjectivere·guar·an·tee, noun, verb (used with object), re·guar·an·teed, re·guar·an·tee·ing.su·per·guar·an·tee, noun, verb, su·per·guar·an·teed, su·per·guar·an·tee·ing.un·guar·an·teed, adjective
Can be confusedguarantee guaranty warrantee warranty
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for guarantee

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • England had been shrewd enough to guarantee them their domains and revenues.

    In the Valley

    Harold Frederic

  • I can at least guarantee that the river shall not suffer from his visit.

    Little Dorrit

    Charles Dickens

  • Betty fumbled with her sketching things as a sort of guarantee of good faith.

  • Who will guarantee our independence when we are at the mercy of every state?

  • Its guarantee is the laws of the universe, and these are "the Hands of the Living God."

    Pax Vobiscum

    Henry Drummond

British Dictionary definitions for guarantee

guarantee

noun
  1. a formal assurance, esp in writing, that a product, service, etc, will meet certain standards or specifications
  2. law a promise, esp a collateral agreement, to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another
    1. a person, company, etc, to whom a guarantee is made
    2. a person, company, etc, who gives a guarantee
  4. a person who acts as a guarantor
  5. something that makes a specified condition or outcome certain
  6. a variant spelling of guaranty
verb -tees, -teeing or -teed (mainly tr)
  1. (also tr) to take responsibility for (someone else's debts, obligations, etc)
  2. to serve as a guarantee for
  3. to secure or furnish security fora small deposit will guarantee any dress
  4. (usually foll by from or against) to undertake to protect or keep secure, as against injury, loss, etc
  5. to ensuregood planning will guarantee success
  6. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to promise or make certain

Word Origin

C17: perhaps from Spanish garante or French garant, of Germanic origin; compare warrant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for guarantee

n.

1670s, alterted (perhaps via Spanish garante), from earlier garrant "warrant that the title to a property is true," early 15c., from Old French garant "defender, protector," from Germanic (see warrant (n.)). For form evolution, see gu-. Originally "person giving something as security;" sense of the "pledge" itself (which is properly a guaranty) developed 17c.

v.

1791, from guarantee (n.). Garanten in this sense is from early 15c. Related: Guaranteed; guaranteeing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper