# assurance

/əˈʃʊɹəns/ (US) · /əʃjˈɔːɹəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/assurance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a promise or guarantee

noun · CEFR B2

a positive statement or promise that something is true or will definitely happen.

For teachers: a declaration intended to inspire confidence or provide a guarantee of a particular outcome.

- The manager gave us his personal assurance that the repairs would be finished by Friday.
- Despite the director's repeated assurances that no jobs were at risk, the staff remained skeptical about the upcoming merger.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'give' or 'receive'.

### 2. self-confidence

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a feeling of being certain about your own abilities.

For teachers: confidence in one's own abilities or status; a state of being certain and undoubting.

- She spoke with great assurance, even though it was her first time on stage.
- The young diplomat handled the difficult negotiations with an assurance that belied his lack of experience in international affairs.

### 3. life insurance

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Technical

a type of insurance that pays out money when someone dies or after a certain amount of time.

For teachers: a contract providing for the payment of a sum of money upon a specific event, typically used in British English for life-related contingencies.

- He took out a life assurance policy to make sure his family was protected.
- The financial advisor explained the technical distinction between term insurance and whole-life assurance policies.

Teaching tip: In British English, 'assurance' is often used for events that will definitely happen (like death), while 'insurance' is for things that might happen (like fire or theft).

### 4. legal transfer of property

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a legal document used to prove that property has been transferred from one person to another.

For teachers: a legal instrument or deed used as evidence of the conveyance of real property.

- The lawyer examined the old assurances to confirm who owned the land.
- The validity of the claim rested upon a series of complex legal assurances dating back to the eighteenth century.

## Examples

- She gave me her personal assurance that the work would be finished.
- The manager provided several assurances that no staff members would lose their jobs during the merger.
- Despite his outward assurance and calm demeanor, the young lawyer felt a deep sense of trepidation as he approached the bench for the first time.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.