Word
underwritten
Phoneticsun·der·writ·ten, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəndɝˌɹɪtən/
UK/ˌʌndəɹˈɪtən/
Definition
v. to agree to pay for something if needed, like a loan, insurance, or public event. It is the past form of 'underwrite' that banks and companies often use.
v. past participle of 'underwrite'; to assume financial risk for something by agreeing to cover costs or losses, such as for a loan, insurance policy, or share issue.
Examples
“The bank has underwritten our small business loan.”
“The new theatre festival was underwritten by local businesses that covered most of the costs.”
“The offshore wind project, underwritten by a group of international banks, moved forward only after guarantees covered potential construction delays.”
Examples
simple
“The bank has underwritten our small business loan.”
contextual
“The new theatre festival was underwritten by local businesses that covered most of the costs.”
complex
“The offshore wind project, underwritten by a group of international banks, moved forward only after guarantees covered potential construction delays.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “underwritten” in context.
Verb
01. get underwritten
“Developers must get the project underwritten before building starts.”
verb + verb
02. have underwritten
“The firm has underwritten infrastructure projects for over a decade.”
verb + verb
03. underwritten by bank
“The mortgage was underwritten by a leading high-street bank.”
verb + prep + noun
04. underwritten by government
“The export loan was underwritten by the government.”
verb + prep + noun
05. underwritten by insurer
“The new health policy was underwritten by a global insurer.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
06. fully underwritten
“The share issue was fully underwritten by three major banks.”
adv + verb
07. jointly underwritten
“The loan was jointly underwritten by two international lenders.”
adv + verb
08. privately underwritten
“The festival was privately underwritten by a local sponsor.”
adv + verb
09. be underwritten by insurer
“All travel policies must be underwritten by a licensed insurer.”
10. fully underwritten by bank
“The bond issue was fully underwritten by a Swiss bank.”
11. have mortgage underwritten
“You must have your mortgage underwritten before exchanging contracts.”
12. jointly underwritten loan facility
“The firm secured a jointly underwritten loan facility to fund expansion.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, often in the passive to name the guarantor.
Real-World Examples
“Its genre send-up is effective and affectionate, with gags about underwritten female characters and illogical spaceship design.” Related words
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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