bond

noun

ˈbänd 

1

: something that binds or restrains : fetter

prisoners freed from their bonds

the bonds of oppression

2

: a binding agreement : covenant

united in the bonds of holy matrimony

My word is my bond.

3

a

: a band or cord used to tie something

b

: a material (such as timber or brick) or device for binding

c

chemistry : an attractive force that holds together the atoms, ions, or groups of atoms in a molecule or crystal

chemical bonds

d

: an adhesive, cementing material, or fusible ingredient that combines, unites, or strengthens

4

: a uniting or binding element or force : tie

the bonds of friendship

5

a

: an obligation made binding by a forfeit of money

also : the amount of the money guarantee

I have sworn an oath, that I will have my bond

—Shakespeare

The accused was released on $40,000 bond.

b

: one who provides bail or acts as surety (see surety sense 3)

c

finance : an interest-bearing certificate of public or private indebtedness

money that she had invested in stocks and bonds

d

: an insurance agreement pledging that one will become legally liable for financial loss caused to another by the act or default of a third person or by some contingency over which the third person may have no control

6

masonry : the systematic lapping (see lap entry 2 sense 4a) of brick in a wall

7

: the state of goods made, stored, or transported under the care of an agency until the duties or taxes on them are paid

… you may leave … tobacco in bond with customs …

—Richard Joseph

8

alcohol : a 100-proof straight whiskey aged at least four years under government supervision before being bottled

called also bonded whiskey

9

: bond paper

Synonyms of bond

• chain
• bracelet
• handcuff(s)
• bind
• confinement

Examples of bond in a Sentence

a daughter's bond with her mother

Recent events have helped to strengthen the bonds between our two countries.

My roommate and I share a common bond because we both grew up in the Midwest.

She has invested most of her money in stocks and bonds.

Recent Examples on the Web

There is an alternative to such a view, one which recognizes that there are bonds that connect people within a society. —Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

The renovation will be funded largely through developer impact fees and San Francisco's 2020 Health and Recovery bond. —Maddie White, CBS News, 10 June 2026

The weaker bonds are dispersed throughout the material as cross-links known as mechanophores, and upon a sudden strike, those mechanophores selectively snap at the impact site, absorbing the impact energy more effectively. —Shirl Leigh june 10, New Atlas, 10 June 2026

At CalPERS, overall performance will be gauged against a passive reference portfolio of 75% global stocks and 25% bonds, though teams will also still have asset benchmarks that will be reported to the board. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English band, bond — more at band

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bond

• bond paper
• bond servant
• coordinate bond
• covalent bond
• dative bond
• double bond
• hydrogen bond
• income bond
• ionic bond
• junk bond
• my word is my bond
• pair-bond
• peptide bond
• revenue bond
• savings bond
• single bond
• someone's word is his/her bond
• surety bond
• triple bond

Rhymes for bond

• awned
• blond
• blonde
• conned
• dawned
• donned
• fond
• frond
• gond
• maund
• pawned
• pond

Kids Definition

bond

1 of 2 noun

ˈbänd 

1

: something that binds

2

a

: a material or device for binding

b

: a means by which atoms, ions, or groups of atoms are held together in a molecule or crystal

3

: a uniting or binding force or influence : tie

the bonds of friendship

4

a

: a pledge to do an act or pay a sum on or before a set date or forfeit a sum if the pledge is not fulfilled

b

: a certificate promising payment of a certain sum on or before a stated day and issued by a government or corporation as an evidence of debt

5

: a binding or connection made by overlapping parts of a structure (as in laying brick)

bond

2 of 2 verb

1

: to protect or secure by or operate under a bond

2

: to hold together or make solid by or as if by a bond

3

: to form a close relationship especially through frequent togetherness

the new mother bonded with her child

bondable

ˈbän-də-bəl 

adjective

bonder noun

Medical Definition

bond

noun

ˈbänd 

: an attractive force that holds together atoms, ions, or groups of atoms in a molecule or crystal

—usually represented in formulas by a line

bond verb

Legal Definition

bond

1 of 2 noun

1

a

: a usually formal written agreement by which a person undertakes to perform a certain act (as appear in court or fulfill the obligations of a contract) or abstain from performing an act (as committing a crime) with the condition that failure to perform or abstain will obligate the person or often a surety to pay a sum of money or will result in the forfeiture of money put up by the person or surety

also : the money put up

Note: The purpose of a bond is to provide an incentive for the fulfillment of an obligation. It also provides reassurance that the obligation will be fulfilled and that compensation is available if it is not fulfilled. In most cases a surety is involved, and the bond makes the surety responsible for the consequences of the obligated person's behavior. Some bonds, such as fidelity bonds, function as insurance agreements, in which the surety promises to pay for financial loss caused by the bad behavior of an obligated person or by some contingency over which the person may have no control.

— appeal bond

: a cost bond required by a rule of procedure to be given by an appellant in order to cover the costs of an appeal

— appearance bond

: an often unsecured bond given by a defendant in a criminal trial to guarantee the defendant's appearance in court as scheduled

— attachment bond

: a bond given by a plaintiff seeking to attach the defendant's property that ensures payment to the defendant of any damages suffered because of the attachment in the event the plaintiff loses the suit

: a bond given by a defendant in order to have an attachment released that ensures payment of a judgment awarded to the plaintiff

— bail bond

: a bond given by a criminal defendant or by his or her surety to ensure compliance with the terms of bail and especially with the requirement that the defendant appear in court as scheduled

— bid bond

: a surety bond often required of contractors bidding on construction work to ensure that the successful bidder will accept the job and will also provide a performance bond

— blanket bond

: a fidelity bond covering all persons or all of a category of persons employed (as by a bank) or holding office (as of a trustee in bankruptcy)

— completion bond

: performance bond in this entry

— contract bond

: a bond given to protect a person or business entity against loss caused by a breach of a contract (as for building, construction, or supply)

— cost bond

: a bond given by a plaintiff to ensure payment of court costs

— depository bond

: a bond given by a bank often for deposits from state or municipal governments that covers the amount of the deposit in the event of the bank's insolvency

— fidelity bond

: a bond or other form of contract to cover an employer or government entity against financial loss due to the dishonesty of an employee or other trusted person

— injunction bond

: a bond required to be given by the applicant for an injunction to cover costs and damages incurred by a party found to have been wrongfully enjoined

— judicial bond

: a bond (as an appeal bond or bail bond) required to be given in a court proceeding

— license bond

: a surety bond required by law or as a condition to the conduct of a specific business or profession

called also permit bond

— payment bond

: a surety bond that covers payment to certain parties (as suppliers) in the event that a contractor breaches a construction contract

— peace bond

: a bond required to be given by a defendant to ensure good behavior and discourage breaches of the peace

— penal bond

: a bond that ensures payment of a stipulated sum in the event of a party's nonperformance and that is often required for government contracts

— performance bond

: a surety bond that ensures a property owner (as a developer or municipality) of the completion of a construction contract or payment of actual damages to the extent of the bond in the event that the contractor fails to complete it

called also completion bond

— permit bond

: license bond in this entry

— personal bond

: a criminal defendant's unsecured promise to appear in court as scheduled after release from custody

— replevin bond

: a bond given by a plaintiff in a replevin action to cover losses to the defendant or court officer seizing the property in the defendant's possession and transferring it to the plaintiff in the event that the plaintiff loses the case

— supersedeas bond

: a bond given by an appellant in order to obtain a stay of the judgment awarded at trial and for the purpose of ensuring that if the appellant loses the appeal the appellee will be paid the judgment plus any damages incident to the delay caused by the appeal

— surety bond

: a bond in which a surety agrees to assume responsibility for the performance of an obligation of another in the event of a default

b

: one who acts as a surety

2

: an interest-bearing document giving evidence of a debt issued by a government body or corporation that is sometimes secured by a lien on property and is often designed to take care of a particular financial need see also collateralized mortgage obligation

— accrual bond

: a bond that is usually the last tranche of a collateralized mortgage obligation and from which no payments of principal or interest are made until the earlier tranches are paid in full

called also Z-bond

— adjustment bond

: a bond that is issued in settlement of a prior obligation as part of a business reorganization and on which interest payments are usually contingent upon earnings

— baby bond

: a bond having a face value of usually $500 or less

— bearer bond

: a fully negotiable bond payable to its bearer compare registered bond in this entry

— book-entry bond

: a bond whose ownership is recorded by computer but for which no certificate is issued

— convertible bond

: a bond that may be exchanged for another type of security (as common stock) at prearranged terms

— coupon bond

: a bearer bond that has coupons that must be cut off and presented for payment of interest

— debenture bond

: a bond backed by the general credit of the issuer rather than by a specific lien on particular assets : debenture

— discount bond

: a bond with a market value lower than its face value

— flower bond

: a Treasury bond that may be redeemed at face value before maturity if used in settling federal estate taxes

— guaranteed bond

: a bond on which payment of interest or principal or both is guaranteed by a corporation other than the issuer

— income bond

: a bond that pays interest at a rate based on the issuer's earnings

— junk bond

: a high-risk bond that offers a high yield and is often issued to finance the takeover of a company

— mortgage bond

: a bond secured by a mortgage on property compare debenture

— municipal bond

: a bond issued by a municipality to fund the expenses of running the government or of specific programs or projects

— registered bond

: a bond registered in the name of the holder on the books of the company and issued with the name of the holder written on the bond certificate compare bearer bond in this entry

— revenue bond

: a bond issued by a public agency authorized to build, acquire, or improve a revenue-producing property (as a toll road) and payable solely out of the revenue derived from such property

— savings bond

: a nontransferable registered bond issued by the U.S. government in denominations of $50 to $10,000

— serial bond

: one of a series of bonds maturing periodically rather than on a single maturity date

— Treasury bond

: a long-term government bond issued by or under the authority of the U.S. Treasury compare Treasury bill at bill, Treasury note at note

— zero-coupon bond

: a bond that is sold at a price significantly below face value, pays no annual interest, and is redeemable at full value at maturity compare strip

bond

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to convert into a debt secured by bonds

2

: to provide a bond for

bond an employee