surety

American  

[shoor-i-tee, shoor-tee, shur-i-tee, shur-tee] / ˈʃʊər ɪ ti, ˈʃʊər ti, ˈʃɜr ɪ ti, ˈʃɜr ti /

noun

plural

sureties

1. security against loss or damage or for the fulfillment of an obligation, the payment of a debt, etc.; a pledge, guaranty, or bond.

2. a person who is legally responsible for the debt, default, or delinquency of another.

3. a person who, as a sponsor, godparent, etc., has assumed or accepted responsibility for another's debts or behavior.

4. the state or quality of being sure.

5. certainty.

6. something that makes sure; ground of confidence or safety.

7. assurance, especially self-assurance.

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surety British  

/ ˈʃʊətɪ, ˈʃʊərɪtɪ /

noun

1. a person who assumes legal responsibility for the fulfilment of another's debt or obligation and himself becomes liable if the other defaults

2. security given against loss or damage or as a guarantee that an obligation will be met

3. obsolete the quality or condition of being sure

4. obsolete a means of assurance or safety

5. to act as a surety

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Other Word Forms

• oversurety noun
• subsurety noun
• suretyship noun

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

Example Sentences

“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

He was released on a $75,000 surety bond, and then he vanished.

From Los Angeles Times

"So being able to give greater surety, greater security is going to be key to viable farming structure going forward."

From BBC

Even while what is depicted onscreen veers wildly out of control, there is a sense of surety to the filmmaking that makes this one of the freshest movies of the year.

From Los Angeles Times

While Lim’s mature eloquence was never in question, the surety and exquisite beauty of his playing in impressive display, his was a perfectionist performance of getting everything to work just right.

From Los Angeles Times