underwriter

American  

[uhn-der-rahy-ter] / ˈʌn dərˌraɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or company that underwrites policies of insurance or carries on insurance as a business.

2. a person or company that underwrites shares or bonds.

3. a person or organization that finances something; backer.

   the underwriters of the ballet company.

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underwriter British  

/ ˈʌndəˌraɪtə /

noun

1. a person or enterprise that underwrites public issues of shares, bonds, etc

2. 1. a person or enterprise that underwrites insurance policies

   2. an employee or agent of an insurance company who assesses risks and determines the premiums payable

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Etymology

Origin of underwriter

First recorded in 1610–20; underwrite + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The stalemate was broken when the lead underwriter agreed to continuing covering the airline for a more modest increase in its premium, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

But currently "no one is buying", he added, saying one underwriter reported to him less than one-percent uptake for Hormuz-related policies.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Bellis, who works as a mortgage underwriter, wanted to be closer to her parents because she has a child and needed more space.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

Roth is engaged to act as an underwriter for the Colombier Acquisition III special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which counts Donald Trump Jr. as a board member, though that offering hasn’t yet been completed.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

These payments form what may be called a reserve fund, and the individual underwriter writes his own policies.

From The Book of Buried Treasure Being a True History of the Gold, Jewels, and Plate of Pirates, Galleons, etc., which are sought for to this day by Paine, Ralph Delahaye

Related Words

• backer
• benefactor
• guarantor
• promoter