Word
insure
Phoneticsin·sure, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈʃʊɹ/
UK/ɪnʃˈɔː/
Definitions
01financial protection
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to buy a policy that pays you money if something bad happens to your property or health.
v. to arrange for compensation in the event of damage to or loss of property, or injury to or the death of someone, in exchange for regular payments.
“It is important to insure your house against fire and flood damage.”
“The company decided to insure the entire fleet of delivery vehicles against theft and accidental damage to mitigate potential operational losses.”
02to make certain
C1 · Advanced American English · Archaic
v. to make sure that something will happen.
v. to make sure, certain, or safe; a variant spelling of 'ensure'.
“Please insure that all the windows are closed before you leave the building.”
“The new safety protocols were designed to insure that no unauthorised personnel could access the laboratory after hours.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and often takes the preposition 'against' for the specific risk.
Pitfall
I need to ensure my car
I need to insure my car
Learners often confuse 'insure' (financial protection) with 'ensure' (to make certain that something happens).
Confusables
Assure is for people, ensure is for outcomes, and insure is for financial protection.
RememberAssure a person; Ensure a result; Insure a house.
Real-World Examples
“It is also a good idea to insure your bike the moment you arrive at university.” Etymology
First attested in c. 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from en- + seür (“sure”), probably influenced by Old French asseürer (“to assure”)); took on its particular sense of "make safe against loss by payment of premiums" in 1635, replacing assure. Doublet of ensure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/insure