indemnify

verb in·dem·ni·fy \ in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

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

—

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

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
The Lakewood City Council recently indemnified Zaro and the other two officers, agreeing to pay their punitive damages out of city funds if an appeal of the verdict fails.

— mike carter, The Seattle Times, "Family of man killed by police while holding cellphone files federal suit against Lakewood," 13 Apr. 2018
In a memo to the City Council, Lakewood City Attorney Heidi Ann Wachter said the city’s code requires it to indemnify employees acting on the city’s behalf as part of their regular employment.

— mike carter, The Seattle Times, "Lakewood City Council approves allocation of $6.5M in punitive damages in police killing of unarmed black man in Fife," 6 Feb. 2018
The state agreed to indemnify the corrections officer for both compensatory and punitive damages, meaning the state would pay the entire amount, even though by law the state is not obligated to pay punitive damages.

— edmund h. mahony, courant.com, "Convict Fights The State Effort To Make Him Pay For Prison," 14 Mar. 2018
The county indemnifies the land so there’s no liability.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Trails, roads and senior center top forum wish list," 28 Feb. 2018
These forces become the scapegoats, almost always with some level of legitimacy, while individual people are indemnified.

— david l. bahnsen, National Review, "A New Era of Angst and How to Navigate It," 13 Feb. 2018
Participants further agree to indemnify and hold Contest Entities harmless from any claims arising from Contest Entities's use of entrants's or winner's submissions.

— kim fusaro, Woman's Day, "Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel CA10 Giveaway Rules," 27 June 2012
In many cases, terms-of-service documents indemnify companies against legal consequences for breaches.

— farhad manjoo, New York Times, "Seriously, Equifax? This Is a Breach No One Should Get Away With," 8 Sep. 2017

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