Dictionary

insure en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈʃɝ/ (General-American)
• /ɪnˈʃɔː(ɹ)/ pour–poor merger
• /ɪnˈʃʊɚ/ (General-American)
• /ɪnˈʃʊə(ɹ)/ without the pour–poor merger
• (US) audio

Etymology

First attested in c. 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from Old French 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.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To provide for compensation if some specified risk occurs. Often agreed by policy (contract) to offer financial compensation in case of an accident, theft or other undesirable event.
   • I'm not insured against burglary.
2. (intransitive) To deal in such contracts; subscribe to a policy of insurance
3. (US, alt-of, alternative, dated, transitive) Alternative spelling of ensure; to make sure or certain of; guarantee.
   alt of ensure
   • "I have a friend at court," whispered she to her companion: "last night I singled out one of Sir Robert's secretaries, and a few smiles made him my devoted chevalier, and he promised to insure an interview." 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Sir Robert Walpole and House”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 237:
   • The latest in automation equipment, combined with highly skilled craftsmen, insure the high quality of the Packard Clipper. 1954, Packard Motor Car Company, Packard Clipper Owner's Manual:
   • […] the sentry placed over the prisoner had strict orders to let no one have communication with him but the Chaplain. And certain unobtrusive measures were taken absolutely to insure this point. 1924, Herman Melville, chapter 19, in Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co.:
   • We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 1787, Preamble to the United States Constitution:

Forms

Deriveds

underinsure · disinsure · insuree · insurance · self-insure · overinsure · insurability · insurable · reinsure · coinsure · insurer

Relateds

insurant · inshore · ensure · assure

Translations (41)

he ביטח (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · lv apdrošināt (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · uk страхува́ти (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · sv försäkra (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · tr sigorta etmek (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · uk застрахува́ти (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · fr assurer (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ru застрахова́ть (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · he בִּטֵּחַ (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · bg застраховам (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · fi vakuuttaa (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ga cuir árachas ar (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · de versichern (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · hu biztosít (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · nl verzekeren (to deal in such contracts) · es asegurar (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · fa بیمه بودن (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · sh osiguravati (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ca assegurar (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · pl ubezpieczać (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · eo asekuri (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ru страхова́ть (to deal in such contracts) · gl asegurar (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · hy ապահովագրել (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ro asigura (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · az sığortalamaq (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · el ασφαλίζω (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · nl verzekeren (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · cs pojistit (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · da forsikre (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ru страхова́ть (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · nl doen in verzekeringen (to deal in such contracts) · ru застрахова́ть (to deal in such contracts) · fa بیمه کردن (to deal in such contracts) · pl ubezpieczyć (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · it assicurare (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · mi inihua (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · uk застрахо́вувати (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · is tryggja (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · sh osigurati (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs) · ru застрахо́вывать (to provide for compensation if some risk occurs)