indemnify

verb in·dem·ni·fy \ in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

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Examples: indemnify in a Sentence

Definition of indemnify

indemnified; indemnifying

transitive verb

1 : to secure against hurt, loss, or damage

2 : to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss, or damage

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indemnifier

play \in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun

See indemnify defined for English-language learners

See indemnify defined for kids

Examples of indemnify in a Sentence

Again, let's look at auto insurance, which indemnifies the holder against loss. If a policy-holder's car is wrecked, the insurance company sends him a check for the value of the car … —John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, May–June 1992
We moved quickly, and the House approved an appropriation of $60,000 to indemnify Hamilton Jordan for his legal fees. —Tip O'Neill, in Man of the House, 1987
Likewise, the "sexagenarians law," which freed slaves over 60 years old, required those slaves to indemnify their masters, as did nearly every act of manumission. —Shepard Foreman, New York Times Book Review, 2 Nov. 1986
the company generously indemnifies workers who are injured on the job

Recent Examples of indemnify from the Web

Here's why this discussion is currently moot in Chicago: Since 1945, the state of Illinois has required the city to indemnify police officers.

— maya dukmasova, Chicago Reader, "News / Criminal Justice Should Chicago cops have to carry misconduct insurance?," 29 June 2018
As negotiations continued, Wendt said Sacramento review lawyers asked RTA and HORCI to indemnify the state of California for that portion of their property.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Groups seek public access to state-owned property," 10 Apr. 2018
In the lawsuit, which has been assigned to state District Judge Hal Ridley, the Karolyis seek a declaration that they are not required to indemnify the USOC and USA Gymnastics against lawsuit damages.

— david barron, Houston Chronicle, "Karolyis file lawsuit against USA Gymnastics," 1 May 2018
Montgomery's letter threatens financial sanctions against the municipalities and offers to indemnify those departments for legal costs.

— michael kiefer, azcentral, "Maricopa County attorney seeks to usurp police control of records, video," 20 May 2018
Unable to comply with the request, county Supervisor Dianne Jacob offered to indemnify the state.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Groups seek public access to state-owned property," 10 Apr. 2018
Are there any laws addressing onerous provisions in snow and ice removal contracts such as hold harmless provisions for the association to indemnify a snow removal contractor if it is sued (even if caused caused by the contractor’s negligence)?

— howard dakoff, chicagotribune.com, "What can condo association do about an owner's disruptive tenant?," 17 Jan. 2018
Trudeau’s government upped the ante this week, with Finance Minister Bill Morneau pledging to indemnify the C$7.4 billion ($5.8 billion) project for politically motivated delays and backstop any company willing to take it on.

— michael bellusci, Bloomberg.com, "For Sale: Stalled Pipeline Project, Protesters Included," 18 May 2018
Read this: Costs are high - and rising - in Louisville's basketball scandal cleanup Ramsey's request for financial assistance says the foundation is required to indemnify him by state law and its own bylaws.

— morgan watkins, The Courier-Journal, "James Ramsey wants U of L to pay his legal fees in its suit against him," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indemnify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of indemnify

Latin indemnis unharmed, from in- + damnum damage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1611

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

indemnify Synonyms

Synonyms

compensate, recompense, recoup, remunerate, requite, satisfy;

Related Words

refund, reimburse, repay;

redress, remedy, repair;

discharge, pay, quit;

Synonym Discussion of indemnify

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something. pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

- paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

- an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

- promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

- all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

- reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

- indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

- repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

- passengers were recompensed for the delay

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

INDEMNIFY Defined for English Language Learners

indemnify

verb

Definition of indemnify for English Language Learners

: to protect (someone) by promising to pay for the cost of possible future damage, loss, or injury
: to give (someone) money or another kind of payment for some damage, loss, or injury