underwrite

American  

[uhn-der-rahyt, uhn-der-rahyt] / ˌʌn dərˈraɪt, ˈʌn dərˌraɪt /

verb (used with object)

underwrote, underwritten, underwriting

1. to write under or at the foot of, especially under other written matter.

2. to sign one's name, as to a document.

3. to show agreement with or to support by or as if by signing one's name to, as a statement or decision.

4. to bind oneself to contribute a sum of money to (an undertaking).

   Wealthy music lovers underwrote the experimental concerts.

5. to guarantee the sale of (a security issue to be offered to the public for subscription).

6. Insurance.

   1. to write one's name at the end of (a policy), thereby becoming liable in case of certain losses specified in the policy.

   2. to insure.

   3. to assume liability to the extent of (a specified sum) by way of insurance.

   4. to select or rate (risks) for insurance.

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verb (used without object)

underwrote, underwritten, underwriting

1. to underwrite something.

2. to carry on the business of an underwriter.

underwrite British  

/ ˌʌndəˈraɪt, ˈʊndəˌraɪt /

verb

1. finance to undertake to purchase at an agreed price any unsold portion of (a public issue of shares, etc)

2. to accept financial responsibility for (a commercial project or enterprise)

3. insurance

   1. to sign and issue (an insurance policy) thus accepting liability if specified losses occur

   2. to insure (a property or risk)

   3. to accept liability up to (a specified amount) in an insurance policy

4. to write (words, a signature, etc) beneath (other written matter); subscribe

5. to support or concur with (a decision, statement, etc) by or as if by signature

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Etymology

Origin of underwrite

First recorded before 1400–50; late Middle English, translation of Latin subscrībere “to write underneath, sign, subscribe”; see origin at subscribe

Explanation

To underwrite is to insure or promise to be financially responsible in case of loss or damage. An insurance agent can underwrite your renter's insurance policy, which protects you if there's a fire or robbery, for example. Insurance companies can underwrite, estimating the value of a life or property, and so can large banks — when a bank underwrites a loan, it means they carefully check the borrower's credit history. The word underwrite comes from the Old English underwritan, "write at the foot of," and originally is exactly what underwriters did, signing their names at the bottom of an assessment of risk, promising to pay in case of disaster in exchange for a set amount of money.

Example Sentences

Illinois residents, who helped underwrite some infrastructure costs, will get in free on Tuesdays and receive a $4 discount other days.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Wells Fargo Chief Financial Officer Michael Santomassimo told analysts in November that “we underwrite every one” of the roughly 2,800 or 3,000 loans in the portfolio financing private-credit firms lending to middle-market companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

That means that lenders will underwrite Meta or Microsoft’s investment-grade credit quality instead of CoreWeave’s non-investment-grade rating.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

“How in good conscience can managers underwrite new loans at 8% or 9% when their stocks yield 13%?” asks Klymochko.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

A businessman learns the boy’s story and promises to underwrite part of the cost of his college education.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Related Words

• approve
• bankroll
• finance
• guarantee
• provide
• secure
• sponsor
• subsidize