vouchsafe

American  

[vouch-seyf] / vaʊtʃˈseɪf /

verb (used with object)

vouchsafed, vouchsafing

1. to grant or give, as by favor, graciousness, or condescension.

   to vouchsafe a reply to a question.

   Synonyms:

   accord, confer, bestow

2. to allow or permit, as by favor or graciousness.

   They vouchsafed his return to his own country.

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verb (used without object)

vouchsafed, vouchsafing

1. to condescend; deign.

vouchsafe British  

/ ˌvaʊtʃˈseɪf /

verb

1. to give or grant or condescend to give or grant

   she vouchsafed no reply

   he vouchsafed me no encouragement

2. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to agree, promise, or permit, often graciously or condescendingly

   he vouchsafed to come yesterday

3. obsolete

   1. to warrant as being safe

   2. to bestow as a favour (upon)

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Other Word Forms

• unvouchsafed adjective
• vouchsafement noun

Etymology

Origin of vouchsafe

1275–1325; Middle English phrase vouche sauf. See vouch, safe

Example Sentences

A monk named Paschalis devotes his life to a biography of the noncanonical saint Wilgefortis, a venerated Christian noblewoman who grew a beard to vouchsafe her chastity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

“And it’s my first time at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival. I suppose, given the circumstances, it’s OK to vouchsafe my secrets or at least one secret about this book.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2022

And requiring that staff safeguard themselves and others is not “socialism”; it’s a necessity to vouchsafe the public welfare.

From Washington Post • Nov. 19, 2021

Only regarding the next can we vouchsafe certainty.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 14, 2018

"To vouchsafe for our good intentions, my brother Ser Perwyn will remain here until she is safely returned to you."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin