insure

[ in-shoor, -shur ]

verb (used with object)

, in·sured, in·sur·ing.

1. to guarantee against loss or harm.

   Synonyms: warrant

2. to secure indemnity to or on, in case of loss, damage, or death.
3. to issue or procure an insurance policy on or for.
4. ensure ( defs 1, 2, 3 ).

   Synonyms: assure

verb (used without object)

, in·sured, in·sur·ing.

1. to issue or procure an insurance policy.

insure

/ ɪnˈʃʊə; -ˈʃɔː /

verb

1. often foll by against to guarantee or protect (against risk, loss, etc)

   we insured against disappointment by making an early reservation

2. often foll by against to issue (a person) with an insurance policy or take out an insurance policy (on)

   after all his car accidents the company refuses to insure him again

   his house was heavily insured against fire

3. See ensure
   another word (esp US) for ensure ensure

Derived Forms

• inˈsurable, adjective
• inˌsuraˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• over·in·sure verb (used with object) overinsured overinsuring
• prein·sure verb (used with object) preinsured preinsuring

Word History and Origins

Origin of insure¹

1400–50; late Middle English; variant of ensure

Example Sentences

Finally, make sure you have a system for keeping track of your insured contents in case you need to make a claim.

From Washington Blade

In an increasingly volatile world, insuring against disruptions can pay off quickly.

From Fortune

The bonds pay a high interest rate—often between 7% and 15% per year—but if the insured losses from a particular event exceed a specified threshold, the creditors lose their entire principle.

From Fortune

Insurers typically rely on data from those it insures to help refine and assess risk.

From Fortune

At some point in the not-too-distant future, coastal properties could become too risky to insure at all, meaning property values would drop, meaning less money to build the things needed to protect against sea level rise in the first place.

From Voice of San Diego

Proceeds from its North Sea drilling rigs will insure corruption and kleptocracy on a Nigerian scale.

From The Daily Beast

Our two largest states, one working to insure its people and the other doing everything in its power to prevent that.

From The Daily Beast

For example, over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported that Obamacare has done little to insure the uninsured.

From The Daily Beast

As a freelance writer under the old dispensation, I had qualified as a Sole Proprietor and was able to insure both of us.

From The Daily Beast

I practice true “health care,” as in going to the doctor when I am healthy to insure that I remain so.

From The Daily Beast

He couldn't sell them; he couldn't burn them; he was even compelled to insure them, to his intense disgust.

From Project Gutenberg

He had but to insure his life for the amount he wanted, and let what would happen, she was safe.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a selection will insure a cigar of good quality; one that will hold fire and last the length of time appropriate to its size.

From Project Gutenberg

In mutual companies the persons insured act together to insure each other.

From Project Gutenberg

Both parties may insure the premises though the mortgagee cannot exceed his debt.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assure
• cover
• guarantee
• hedge
• safeguard
• shield
• underwrite

Insure Vs. Ensure Vs. Assure

What's the difference between insure, ensure, and assure?

Insure typically means to guarantee against loss or harm or, more specifically, to cover with insurance. Ensure most commonly means to guarantee or make certain, as in Working hard ensures success. Assure usually means to tell someone something with confidence or to cause someone to know something with certainty—it often means the same thing as reassure.

It’s no wonder there’s confusion between the three words—all three are verbs that are based on the Latin root sēcūrus, meaning safe. Making things even more confusing is the fact that ensure and insure can be used interchangeably in most senses. Still, insure is much more commonly used in the context of insurance, like car insurance, health insurance, and homeowner’s insurance. These kinds of insurance insure you—they give you coverage that provides you with compensation in certain cases and situations.

Ensure is typically used in a more general way in the context of actions that are done to make sure that something happens or is the case, as in We need to ensure that the meeting starts on time.

Assure is always used in the context of communication, especially in situations in which someone is trying to make someone else feel better about something. It’s used in the phrase rest assured.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet to remember the most common uses of each word:

insure = cover with insurance
ensure = make sure
assure = reassure

Here’s an example of insure, ensure, and assure used correctly in a sentence.

Example: She assured me that the company has ensured that every employee has the opportunity to be insured.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between insure, ensure, and assure.

Quiz yourself on insure vs. ensure vs. assure!

Should insure, ensure, or assure be used in the following sentence?

We need to take action to _____ that this never happens again.