guar·an·tee
ˌger-ən-ˈtē 
ˈga-rən-
ˌgär-,
ˌga-rən-,
also ˈger-ən-ˌtē,
or
ˈgär-ən-
ˈga-rən-
1
: a promise to answer for the payment of a debt or the performance of a duty of another in case of the other's default or miscarriage : guaranty sense 1
2
: one to whom a guaranty is made
3
: an assurance for the fulfillment of a condition: such as
a
: an agreement by which one person promises to secure another in the possession or enjoyment of something
b
: an assurance of the quality of or of the length of use to be expected from a product offered for sale often with a promise of reimbursement
The washer comes with a guarantee against major defects.
4
5
: an assurance that an event, result, or effect is certain
—often used in negative constructions
There's no guarantee it won't rain.
6
: the protection of a right provided by legal provision (as in a constitution)
the constitutional guarantee of due process
guaranteed; guaranteeing; guarantees
1
: to promise to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of
guarantee a loan
2
: to engage for the existence, permanence, or nature of : undertake to do or secure
guarantee the winning of three tricks
3
: to give security to
guaranteed her against loss
4
: to assert confidently
I guarantee you'll like it.
Examples of guarantee in a Sentence
Noun
And as key pieces of the infrastructure are knocked out, there is no guarantee that they will be repaired or rebuilt, at least not as they were before.
—
Naomi Klein, Harper's, October 2007
It might be no bad thing if the Constitution's guarantee of "equal protection of the laws" was interpreted to outlaw the vagaries of voting …
—Michael Kinsley, New York Times Book Review, 5 Nov. 2006
Collecting can be a sort of love-sickness. If you begin collecting living things, … even if you manage to find them and then possess them, there is no guarantee they won't die or change.
—Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 1995
The washer comes with a guarantee against major defects.
They wanted a guarantee that the document was authentic.
They want the new contract to include a guarantee of job security.
The U.S. Constitution includes guarantees against unreasonable searches.
He cited the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.
Verb
They're called change agents. They swoop in to transform stodgy institutions … . It's a risky tack, one that guarantees large numbers of people will hate the boss's guts.
—Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2005
For an incumbent President … . The power of the office and the media coverage its holder is guaranteed for just doing his job generally give him the luxury of staying above the fray.
—Joe Klein, Time, 22 Mar. 2004
Voucher plans were adopted largely as a last resort, an effort to guarantee a semblance of school choice for low-income minority students in failing inner-city schools.
—Jeffrey Rosen, New Republic, 18 Mar. 2002
The washer is guaranteed against defects for one year.
They guarantee that the diamonds they sell are top quality.
He offered to personally guarantee the loan.
The investment was guaranteed by the bank.
I guarantee that you'll be satisfied.
He guaranteed us that everything would go according to plan.
Money doesn't guarantee a happy life.
He guaranteed a victory in the championship game.
Naomi Klein, Harper's, October 2007
It might be no bad thing if the Constitution's guarantee of "equal protection of the laws" was interpreted to outlaw the vagaries of voting …
—Michael Kinsley, New York Times Book Review, 5 Nov. 2006
Collecting can be a sort of love-sickness. If you begin collecting living things, … even if you manage to find them and then possess them, there is no guarantee they won't die or change.
—Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 1995
The washer comes with a guarantee against major defects.
They wanted a guarantee that the document was authentic.
They want the new contract to include a guarantee of job security.
The U.S. Constitution includes guarantees against unreasonable searches.
He cited the First Amendment guarantee of free speech.
Verb
They're called change agents. They swoop in to transform stodgy institutions … . It's a risky tack, one that guarantees large numbers of people will hate the boss's guts.
—Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2005
For an incumbent President … . The power of the office and the media coverage its holder is guaranteed for just doing his job generally give him the luxury of staying above the fray.
—Joe Klein, Time, 22 Mar. 2004
Voucher plans were adopted largely as a last resort, an effort to guarantee a semblance of school choice for low-income minority students in failing inner-city schools.
—Jeffrey Rosen, New Republic, 18 Mar. 2002
The washer is guaranteed against defects for one year.
They guarantee that the diamonds they sell are top quality.
He offered to personally guarantee the loan.
The investment was guaranteed by the bank.
I guarantee that you'll be satisfied.
He guaranteed us that everything would go according to plan.
Money doesn't guarantee a happy life.
He guaranteed a victory in the championship game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
It’s backed by a lifetime guarantee, with water-resistant lining that’ll protect your belongings every step of the way.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guarantee
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
It’s backed by a lifetime guarantee, with water-resistant lining that’ll protect your belongings every step of the way.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
Mudslides are all but guaranteed in this scenario.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guarantee
Cite this Entry
“Guarantee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guarantee. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
guarantee
1 of 2 noun
guar·an·tee
ˌgar-ən-ˈtē
ˌgär-
guarantee
2 of 2 verb
guaranteed; guaranteeing
1
: to promise to answer for the debt, failure to perform, or faulty performance of another
2
: to promise that some condition holds or will be fulfilled
guarantee a car against defects for one year
guaranteed annual wage
3
: to give security : secure
Legal Definition
guarantee
noun
guar·an·tee
ˌgar-ən-ˈtē, ˌgär-
1
2
3
: an assurance that a condition will be fulfilled: as
a
: an agreement by which one person undertakes to secure another in the possession or enjoyment of something
b
: an assurance of the quality or of the length of use to be expected from a product offered for sale often with a promise of reimbursement
4
: guaranty sense 4, 5
constitutional guarantees
guarantee
transitive verb
Etymology
Noun
probably alteration of guaranty
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