indemnify

American  

[in-dem-nuh-fahy] / ɪnˈdɛm nəˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

• indemnifies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• indemnified,
  past participle,  past
• indemnifying
  present participle

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).

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indemnify British  

/ ɪnˈdɛmnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to secure against future loss, damage, or liability; give security for; insure

2. to compensate for loss, injury, expense, etc; reimburse

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• indemnification
  noun
• indemnifier
  noun
• preindemnify
  verb (used with object)
• unindemnified
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• indemnifying
  present
• indemnified
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• indemnify
  simple
• indemnifies
  simple
• have indemnified
  perfect
• has indemnified
  perfect
• am indemnifying
  progressive
• are indemnifying
  progressive
• is indemnifying
  progressive
• have been indemnifying
  perfect progressive
• has been indemnifying
  perfect progressive

Past

• indemnified
  simple
• had indemnified
  perfect
• was indemnifying
  progressive
• were indemnifying
  progressive
• had been indemnifying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will indemnify
  simple
• will have indemnified
  perfect
• will be indemnifying
  progressive
• will have been indemnifying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of indemnify

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

Explanation

To pay compensation for a loss, damages, or similar expense is to indemnify. "The insurance company indemnified its customers for their claims after the severe storm — one customer lost three cars, a row boat, and a golf cart." The verb indemnify also means to secure against future loss. The farmers bought insurance to indemnify themselves and their animals against catastrophic loss. The word indemnify comes from the Latin word indemnis, which means "to unhurt." The city wanted to shut down an old local landmark because they were afraid it no longer met modern safety standards, but local citizens wanted it to remain. In a compromise, the owners agreed to indemnify the city against possible loss and the landmark was allowed to remain.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

indemnify indemnifies indemnified indemnifying

He also didn’t feel comfortable signing the liability waiver that would indemnify the federal government and contractors in the event of mistakes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025

Earlier this month, Mr Jeffries sued A&F after it refused to pay his criminal defence costs, arguing the brand had agreed to indemnify him for all claims arising out of his position.

From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2024

I am also going to indemnify our police officers.

From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2024

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 ● Dec. 21, 2023

And yes, there were precautions administrators took to indemnify themselves against all eventualities.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

The settlement indemnifies Uber from future disability claims concerning its wait fee system — but it’s far from the only disability claim facing the company.

From The Verge ● Jul. 18, 2022

Cast insurance is common on Hollywood productions and indemnifies producers for any losses or extra expenses to complete principal photography due to the death, injury or illness of any insured artist or director.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2021

“Section 230” is a reference to a 1996 federal law that broadly indemnifies tech platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google for the actions of their users.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2020

The nonprofit organization worked the language into the paperwork on every grant agreement, and indemnifies the donors from the consequences of illegal actions.

From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2019

But how that same forbearing world indemnifies itself on poor Mrs. Peony!

From Kate Coventry An Autobiography by G. J. Whyte-Melville

That person said team owners don’t know how insistent Snyder will be about being indemnified against legal liabilities and costs, either by a prospective buyer or by the NFL and the other owners.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 24, 2023

Halls is seeking to be indemnified against Baldwin and the other crew members, as well as compensation for any damages he may be liable for if Mitchell wins her case.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2022

Britain's finance ministry said on Wednesday Bank of England intervention in the government bond market was needed to tackle "significant volatility" and market dysfunction, and any losses would be fully indemnified by the government.

From Reuters ● Sep. 28, 2022

It added that the plan would be fully indemnified by the Treasury and that the purchases would be "time limited".

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2022

I indemnified her for the loss of the scent-bag by the millipeds, whose prison I immediately insinuated into her pocket.

From The Campaner Thal and Other Writings by Jean Paul

The archdiocese “has obligations to some of those individuals which may include indemnifying legal fees for representation,” Archbishop William Lori said in a Nov. 22 statement.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 6, 2022

The fund covers all users of South African roads against injuries sustained or death in motor vehicle accidents, indemnifying those who cause the accident, as well as providing personal injury and death insurance to victims.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2020

There are aspects of urban exploration that leave me deeply uneasy, and that cannot be fended off by indemnifying gestures of self-awareness on the part of its practitioners.

From The New Yorker ● May 23, 2019

CBS had no comment on the issue of indemnifying ex-employees who signed nondisclosure agreements with nondisparagement clauses.

From New York Times ● Oct. 26, 2018

And now they make a pretence of indemnifying us; but in thirty years, supposing there is peace—in thirty years our village will not possess what it had last year.

From The Pl?biscite or, A Miller's Story of the War by Alexandre Chatrian