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

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Etymology

Origin of indemnify

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

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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

Pejman Javaheri, managing partner at Juris Law Group, noted that consumer packaged-goods manufacturers have to indemnify the retailer against any product issues arise with the private-label goods.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

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

The contractor agreed to indemnify the city, which didn’t directly contribute to the settlement sum, and Synagro.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2024

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

“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 fund indemnifies drivers and compensates victims in road traffic accidents but strictly caps compensation for medical expenses and limits payouts for loss of earnings at 9% of Jackson’s annual income, according to court filings.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2020

The act also gives the Director of National Intelligence and Attorney General power to permit obtaining intelligence information, and indemnifies internet companies against any actions arising as a result of co-operating with authorities' requests.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 6, 2013

It breaks out in half-veiled sarcasms, by which he cynically indemnifies himself for his ignoble yielding to the constraint which they put upon him.

From Expositions of Holy Scripture : St. Matthew Chaps. IX to XXVIII by Alexander Maclaren

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

Of Kerouac’s sad, sodden later years, he writes: “From the time that Kerouac completed ‘On the Road,’ he was indemnified against ever making — or having made — a serious mistake in his life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2022

In New Mexico, proponents of that state’s bill said it became clear it would fail if law enforcement officers and other government employees were not indemnified from lawsuits.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2021

What she knew of him? &c. &c. put Mrs. Cizmeasz in better spirits, and indemnified her for the disagreeable impression which the first part of the examination had made on her mind.

From The Village Notary by J?zsef E?tv?s

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 California Assisted Living Assn. joined other healthcare groups in an April 9 letter urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign an executive order indemnifying facilities.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 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

Here the buffaloes were in immense herds; and here they remained for three days, slaying and cooking, and feasting, and indemnifying themselves by an enormous carnival, for a long and hungry Lent.

From The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U. S. A., in the Rocky Mountains and the Far West by Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville

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