surety

noun sure·ty \ ˈshu̇r(-ə)-tē , ˈshər- \

Updated on: 26 May 2018

plural sureties

1 : the state of being sure: such as

a : sure knowledge : certainty

b : confidence in manner or behavior : assurance

2 a : a formal engagement (such as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking : guarantee

b : a basis of confidence or security

3 : one who has become legally liable for the debt, default, or failure in duty of another

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suretyship

play \ˈshu̇r(-ə)-tē-ˌship, ˈshər-\ noun

See surety defined for English-language learners

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Examples of surety in a Sentence

As sureties, they will be liable in his place.
gave his surety that he would pay back the loan if his sister was unable to for any reason

Recent Examples of surety from the Web

When test subjects are reminded of earlier wrongdoing, their surety about themselves takes a hit.

— steve ayan, Scientific American, "10 Things You Don’t Know About Yourself," 15 May 2018
Judge Samuel Cappas lowered Brazier’s bail to $1,500, or $15,000 surety.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Father's bail reduced in Merrillville shooting where child injured pregnant mother," 24 Apr. 2018
Brazier was held in the Lake County Jail on a $5,000 cash, $50,000 surety, bond after being charged from the shooting.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Father's bail reduced in Merrillville shooting where child injured pregnant mother," 24 Apr. 2018
Deddens wrote on Facebook that Ferguson's bond was set at $35,000 cash and $200,000 surety.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "'Grandma Stinker' was receiving pot in the mail from son, say police | The Kansas City Star," 15 Mar. 2018
Ferguson's bond was set at $35,000 cash and $200,000 surety.

— Cincinnati.com, "Police: ‘Grandma Stinker’ received marijuana shipments from son," 15 Mar. 2018
Another measure would compel bail companies to post the terms of their contracts online and direct the California Department of Insurance — which regulates the bail bond industry — to conduct a review of the surety corporations that back them.

— jazmine ulloa, latimes.com, "Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents," 24 Apr. 2018
Larkin was ordered to put up two properties as surety on the $1 million bond.

— richard ruelas, azcentral, "Backpage co-founder James Larkin released on $1M bond in Phoenix," 16 Apr. 2018
Mom-and-pop bail companies are backed by large surety companies, which guarantee the full amount of the bond in exchange for a portion of the premium.

— jessica silver-greenberg and shaila dewan, New York Times, "When Bail Feels Less Like Freedom, More Like Extortion," 31 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of surety

Middle English seurte, from Anglo-French seurté, from Latin securitat-, securitas security, from securus

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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surety Synonyms

SURETY Defined for English Language Learners

surety

noun

law : money that you give as a guarantee that you will do what you are legally required to do (such as to appear in court)
law : someone who agrees to be legally responsible if another person fails to pay a debt or to perform a duty
: the state of being or feeling sure or certain

Law Dictionary

surety

noun sure·ty \ ˈshu̇r-ə-tē \

plural sureties

1 : a formal engagement (as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking

2 : one (as an accommodation party) who promises to answer for the debt or default of another

Note: At common law a surety is distinguished from a guarantor by being immediately liable as opposed to becoming liable only upon default of the principal. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, however, a surety includes a guarantor, and the two terms are generally interchangeable.