surety
- 01 C1 Advanced
a person or organization that promises to pay a debt if the original person fails to do so.
a person or entity that takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, such as the payment of a debt.
Simple“The bank required a surety to sign the loan documents before approving the money.”
In context“The defendant was released from custody after his brother agreed to act as surety, pledging his own property as collateral for the bail bond.”
UsageOften used as a countable noun referring to the person, or uncountable referring to the money provided.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
the state of being sure or certain about something.
the state of being sure or certain; a formal synonym for certainty or confidence.
Simple“He spoke with such surety that everyone in the room believed his story.”
In context“Despite the chaotic circumstances, she navigated the crisis with a quiet surety that calmed her subordinates and restored order to the department.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
something that serves as proof or a guarantee that a promise will be kept.
something that serves as a security, ground of confidence, or evidence of a commitment.
Simple“The king demanded a hostage as surety that the peace treaty would be honored.”
In context“The ancient custom required the exchange of valuable artifacts as a surety of the alliance between the two warring tribes.”
“Judge Clancy set the independent surety at €25,000, of which €10,000 must be handed over in court.”
“In his announcement, Downey also got tougher on those acting as sureties for bail applicants.”
From Middle English surete, attested since the early 1300s in the sense "guarantee, promise, pledge, assurance", from Anglo-Norman seurté/Old French seurté with the same meaning (whence modern French sûreté), from Latin sēcūritās. Equivalent to sure + -ty. The senses "security, safety, stability" and "certainty" are attested since the late 1300s. "One who undertakes to pay if another does not" is from the early 1400s. Doublet of security.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.