indemnify

verb in·dem·ni·fy \ in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī \

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

It was meant to protect and indemnify people without creating economic catastrophe.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "Houston's Flood Is a Design Problem," 28 Aug. 2017
The fantasy of mowing protesters over with cars became so potent among Trump’s core supporters that Republicans in several states introduced legislation aimed at indemnifying motorists who struck protesters with motor vehicles.

— brian beutler, New Republic, "These Are Donald Trump’s Racist Troops," 14 Aug. 2017
HuffPost is not named in the summons; Mr. Ali said he was indemnified by the news organization.

— emily steel, New York Times, "Eric Bolling, Suspended by Fox News, Sues Over Lewd-Photo Article," 9 Aug. 2017
Besides indemnifying homes and property against fire damage, people can take a number of steps to protect their residences and increase their chances of surviving a large blaze.

— joshua emerson smith, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Are wildfires worsening due to development, climate change and controversial forest management?," 7 July 2017
Iowa taxpayers would be responsible for paying, since state law indemnifies state employees sued in federal court for action pertaining to their jobs.

— david pitt, The Seattle Times, "Court: Iowa State University wrong to block pot T-shirt," 14 June 2017
The fear is there because the city has sought to avoid indemnifying police officers following at least one jury trial in which an officer was found liable for misconduct.

— eric heisig, cleveland.com, "Cleveland to pay $87,500 to unarmed man shot by police officer," 6 June 2017
As part of Mr. Ailes’s exit package, 21st Century Fox agreed to indemnify him against any settlements, a person familiar with the matter said.

— nicole hong, WSJ, "How Roger Ailes’s Death Affects Lawsuits," 18 May 2017
As the scope of the project became obvious, the landowners’ fear of liability grew, despite the fact that the city would have fully indemnified them against any liability, Fletcher said.

— andy rathbun, Twin Cities, "Vadnais Heights won’t have a Super Bowl ice castle after all," 20 Apr. 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

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First Known Use: 1611

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