surety
noun
sure·ty
ˈshu̇r(-ə)-tē 
ˈshər-
plural sureties
1
2
a
: a formal engagement (such as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking : guarantee
b
: a basis of confidence or security
3
: one who has become legally liable for the debt, default, or failure in duty of another
Synonyms
Examples of surety in a Sentence
As sureties, they will be liable in his place.
gave his surety that he would pay back the loan if his sister was unable to for any reason
Recent Examples on the Web
The increase was driven by growth in transactional E&S, programs, captives, surety, and global property & agriculture underwriting divisions.
—
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
Even while what is depicted onscreen veers wildly out of control, there is a sense of surety to the filmmaking that makes this one of the freshest movies of the year.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
So the truly diabolical temptation might be not the one depicted in these stories but the one the story as story teases: the reader’s own religious surety.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024
In most communities, law enforcement was handled by the Justices of the Peace who used a legal tool inherited from England, sureties, which were also known as peace or good-behavior bonds.
—Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for surety 
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Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
Even while what is depicted onscreen veers wildly out of control, there is a sense of surety to the filmmaking that makes this one of the freshest movies of the year.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
So the truly diabolical temptation might be not the one depicted in these stories but the one the story as story teases: the reader’s own religious surety.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024
In most communities, law enforcement was handled by the Justices of the Peace who used a legal tool inherited from England, sureties, which were also known as peace or good-behavior bonds.
—Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for surety
Dictionary Entries Near surety
Cite this Entry
“Surety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surety. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surety
noun
sure·ty
ˈshu̇r-ət-ē
ˈshu̇(ə)rt-ē
plural sureties
Legal Definition
surety
noun
sure·ty
ˈshu̇r-ə-tē
plural sureties
1
: a formal engagement (as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking
2
: one (as an accommodation party) who promises to answer for the debt or default of another
Note: At common law a surety is distinguished from a guarantor by being immediately liable as opposed to becoming liable only upon default of the principal. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, however, a surety includes a guarantor, and the two terms are generally interchangeable.
Etymology
Anglo-French seurté, literally, guarantee, security, from Old French, from Latin securitat-, securitas, from securus secure
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