underwrite

verb

un·​der·​write ˈən-dər-ˌrīt 

ˈən-də-,

ˌən-dər-ˈrīt,

ˌən-də-

underwrote ˈən-dər-ˌrōt 

ˈən-də-,

ˌən-dər-ˈrōt,

ˌən-də-

; underwritten ˈən-dər-ˌri-tᵊn 

ˈən-də-,

ˌən-dər-ˈri-tᵊn,

ˌən-də-

; underwriting ˈən-dər-ˌrī-tiŋ 

ˈən-də-,

ˌən-dər-ˈrī-,

ˌən-də-

transitive verb

1

: to write under or at the end of something else

2

: to set one's name to (an insurance policy) for the purpose of thereby becoming answerable for a designated loss or damage on consideration of receiving a premium percent : insure on life or property

also : to assume liability for (a sum or risk) as an insurer

3

: to subscribe to : agree to

4

a

: to agree to purchase (something, such as security issue) usually on a fixed date at a fixed price with a view to public distribution

b

: to guarantee financial support of

underwrite a project

intransitive verb

: to work as an underwriter

Synonyms

• fund
• finance
• subsidize

Examples of underwrite in a Sentence

a university willing to underwrite an archaeological expedition

Recent Examples on the Web

The rise in the costs of health care and health insurance premiums are a challenge to both employers who underwrite the bulk of the tab and workers who contribute through payroll deductions. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025

How else to describe a technological project that produces art, music, film, and text that has not been underwritten by the human experience and is uniquely devoid of feeling? —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025

Borrowing a page from her neighbor to the west, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, Geerlings-Simons argues that oil receipts should underwrite biodiversity protection and climate resilience. —Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

How much revenue, as well as how much the initial reforms will cost, and who will underwrite them, aren’t in the report. —Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for underwrite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

underwrite

verb

un·​der·​write ˈən-də(r)-ˌrīt 

ˌən-də(r)-ˈrīt

underwrote -ˌrōt 

-ˈrōt

; underwritten -ˌrit-ᵊn 

-ˈrit-ᵊn

; underwriting -ˌrīt-iŋ 

-ˈrīt-

1

: to write under or at the end of something else

2

: to set one's name to (an insurance policy) and thereby agree to insure against specified loss or damage

3

: to agree to

4

a

: to agree to purchase (as security issue) usually on a fixed date at a fixed price with a plan of distribution to the public

b

: to guarantee financial support of

underwrite the project

underwriter

ˈən-də(r)-ˌrīt-ər

noun

Legal Definition

underwrite

transitive verb

un·​der·​write ˈən-dər-ˌrīt, ˌən-dər-ˈrīt 

underwrote -ˌrōt, -ˈrōt  ; underwritten -ˌrit-ᵊn, -ˈrit-ᵊn  ; underwriting

1

a

: to assume liability for (a risk) as an insurer

the insurer underwrites individuals, not the group, in franchise health insurance

b

: to issue or set the terms of (an insurance policy)

2

: to agree to purchase (all or part of a security issue) usually on a fixed date at a fixed price with the purpose or plan to resell by means of a public offering

was a security brokerage firm which as part of its business underwrote speculative new issues

—UFITEC, S.A. v. Carter, 135 Cal. Rptr. 607 (1977)

3

a

: to put up funds for or guarantee financial support of

b

: to assess the risk of (as a loan)