surety
Americannoun
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sureties
plural
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security against loss or damage or for the fulfillment of an obligation, the payment of a debt, etc.; a pledge, guaranty, or bond.
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a person who is legally responsible for the debt, default, or delinquency of another.
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a person who, as a sponsor, godparent, etc., has assumed or accepted responsibility for another's debts or behavior.
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the state or quality of being sure.
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something that makes sure; ground of confidence or safety.
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assurance, especially self-assurance.
noun
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a person who assumes legal responsibility for the fulfilment of another's debt or obligation and himself becomes liable if the other defaults
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security given against loss or damage or as a guarantee that an obligation will be met
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obsolete the quality or condition of being sure
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obsolete a means of assurance or safety
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to act as a surety
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of surety
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English surte from Middle French; Old French seurte from Latin sēcūritāt-, stem of sēcūritās security
Explanation
A surety is a fact that no one questions. Surety, in a legal sense, is the security you can provide when you apply for a loan. When you're sure of something, you're positive it's true. Such things are sureties, because they inspire such confidence. Also, there's a legal type of surety. If you take out a loan, a house you own could be a surety: it could be claimed by your creditors if you don't repay the loan. That type of surety provides security (or insecurity, if you fail to pay back the loan).
Vocabulary lists containing surety
"The Tempest," Vocabulary from Acts 1 and 2
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Vocabulary from the Magna Carta, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Under his bail conditions, a surety of £19,000 was provided by Amin Haydar.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
Mr. Lendorf stood out for his unerring, dignified demeanor and the clarity of his pliant upper-body carriage against the marvelous surety of his cats-paw footwork and quietly powerful legwork.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026
“It Was Just an Accident” compellingly challenges our surety of what we’re watching as these characters debate what should be done.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025
We’re well on the way to a future of absolute weather uncertainty—no surety to forecasts, a weakened ability to transmit emergency alerts—that we’ll nevertheless have to pay for out of our own pockets.
From Slate ● May 22, 2025
He switched off the ignition and turned with what he hoped would be taken for a gesture of surety, of casual mastery toward Emma Lee.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
"They are to provide sureties, who will submit their particulars to the court. So, the 69 suspects have been granted bail and I am processing their paperwork," Ohimor said.
From Reuters ● Sep. 19, 2023
Media companies filed a motion seeking the information, but defense attorneys pushed back, saying the sureties could face harassment or threats.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
Requesting £1,000 cash sureties as part of the release terms, Mr Justice Rooney confirmed they are to be prohibited from entering any Tesco stores in the UK.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2023
Legal experts said there was little chance Santos would actually be detained even if his sureties were to back out.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
No matter how many years may elapse they are still after the sureties and are still after the principal.
From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Legal by Robert Green Ingersoll
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
