assurance

American  

[uh-shoor-uhns, -shur-] / əˈʃʊər əns, -ˈʃɜr- /

noun

1. a positive declaration intended to give confidence.

   He received assurances of support for the project.

2. promise or pledge; guaranty; surety.

   He gave his assurance that the job would be done.

   Synonyms:

   oath, warranty

3. full confidence; freedom from doubt; certainty.

   to act in the assurance of success.

   Antonyms:

   uncertainty

4. freedom from timidity; self-confidence; belief in one's abilities.

   She acted with speed and assurance.

   Antonyms:

   uncertainty

5. presumptuous boldness; impudence.

   Synonyms:

   cheek, nerve, impertinence, effrontery

   Antonyms:

   uncertainty

6. Chiefly British. insurance.

---

assurance British  

/ əˈʃʊərəns /

noun

1. a statement, assertion, etc, intended to inspire confidence or give encouragement

   she was helped by his assurance that she would cope

2. a promise or pledge of support

   he gave an assurance of help when needed

3. freedom from doubt; certainty

   his assurance about his own superiority infuriated her

4. forwardness; impudence

5. insurance providing for certainties such as death as contrasted with fire or theft

---

Usage

What does assurance mean? An assurance is a positive promise, pledge, or guarantee. It is intended to dispel the listener’s doubts and give them confidence. When we are worried about something, an assurance from a trusted source can ease our anxieties. If you’re nervous about a volcano erupting, a scientist could give you assurance that it’s not meant to blow for 500 more years. The assurance might help you feel more safe and certain. Example: When Marya’s teacher asked why she hadn’t submitted her assignment, Marya gave an assurance that the essay was on its way.

Related Words

See trust. See confidence.

Other Word Forms

• preassurance noun

Etymology

Origin of assurance

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English ass(e)ura(u)nce, from Middle French ass(e)urance; equivalent to assure + -ance

Explanation

An assurance is a vote of confidence. If you give your friend an assurance that you'll be there, you'd better show up. If you pledge to do something or make a binding commitment to do it, you can use the noun assurance. If the bank is going to loan you money to buy a house, they are going to need some sort of assurance that you will repay the loan in a timely manner. If you have confidence in yourself and your abilities, you can also use assurance to describe that — "The baseball team played with assurance, quickly racking up a seven point lead."

Example Sentences

For Foster, it’s an assurance against opening day and temps in October and November that might be too warm for both natural snow and snowmaking.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

“There is a lot of uncertainty around the assurance that vessels could pass without being compromised or attacked, and we don’t see flows resuming anytime quickly before these reassurances are made,” Bakr added.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

It gave multiple generations the assurance that we couldn’t easily be deported, unlike others we knew who didn’t have the good fortune to be born here.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Each of his seven AI agents has its own identity and tasks, from writing code to reviewing it and conducting quality assurance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“It’s not a big deal,” I said with more assurance than I felt.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• affirmation
• assertion
• guarantee
• pledge
• promise
• security
• support
• word