warranty

noun

war·​ran·​ty ˈwȯr-ən-tē 

ˈwär-

plural warranties

1

a

: a real covenant binding the grantor of an estate and the grantor's heirs to warrant and defend the title

b

: a collateral undertaking that a fact regarding the subject of a contract is or will be as it is expressly or by implication declared or promised to be

2

: something that authorizes, sanctions, supports, or justifies : warrant

3

: a usually written guarantee of the integrity of a product and of the maker's responsibility for the repair or replacement of defective parts

Synonyms

• bond
• contract
• covenant
• deal
• guarantee
• guaranty
• surety

Examples of warranty in a Sentence

The stereo came with a three-year warranty.

a one-year warranty for the refrigerator

Recent Examples on the Web

Home inspection/Home warranty/Survey: Can be useful for future projects. —Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024

Shady Rays has done this well with its social impact, replacement program, and attractive warranty. —Kyle Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024

That doesn’t factor in labor costs for any repairs (the warranty only covers parts) or the expense of replacing our roof earlier than planned. —Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024

At Ford, product quality has been an ongoing challenge since before CEO Jim Farley took the helm in October 2022, with billions of dollars in recall and warranty costs. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2024

There are currently five colors available to complement your outdoor setup, all of which come with a three-year fabric warranty. —Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024

Plus, the touchscreen style also comes with a one year warranty. —Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2024

Work was done to repair or replace those units in 2018 − which Cullen performed under warranty. —Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024

Wilson told the man who came to fix her dryer on March 18 that a previous company said her machine was under warranty, according to court documents. —Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English warantie, from Anglo-French warantie, garantie, from warentir to warrant

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing warranty

• warranty deed

Kids Definition

warranty

noun

war·​ran·​ty ˈwȯr-ənt-ē 

ˈwär-

plural warranties

: a written statement guaranteeing the good condition of a product and stating the maker's responsibility for the repair or replacement of faulty parts

Legal Definition

warranty

noun

war·​ran·​ty ˈwȯr-ən-tē, ˈwär- 

plural warranties

1

: a promise in a deed that gives the grantee of an estate recourse (as through an action for damages) against the grantor and the grantor's heirs in case the grantee is evicted by someone holding a paramount title

called also covenant of warranty

see also special warranty deed and warranty deed at deed

2

a

: a promise in a contract (as for a sale or lease) which states that the subject of the contract is as represented (as in being free from defective workmanship) and which gives the warrantee recourse against the warrantor

a warranty against defects is implied by the sale

see also breach of warranty at breach sense 1a compare caveat emptor

Note: A warranty was originally considered to extend only to those parties having privity of contract (as the manufacturer and dealer of an automobile), but cases have held that a warranty also extends to the final consumer who does not contract directly with the manufacturer. Both express and implied warranties may be modified, limited, or even waived by agreement of the parties. Breach of a warranty generally does not constitute breach of the entire contract.

— express warranty

: a warranty that is created in a contract by a statement of fact (as a description) which is made about the object of the contract and which forms a basis of the bargain

— implied warranty

: a warranty that is not expressly stated but that is recognized or imposed by the law based on the nature of the transaction

— warranty of fitness

: a usually implied warranty that the property being sold is fit for the purpose for which the buyer is purchasing it

Note: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a seller must know the purpose for which goods are being bought and that the buyer is relying on the seller's skill or judgment in order for a warranty of fitness to be implied.

— warranty of habitability

: a usually implied warranty in a residential lease that the leased premises will be habitable

Note: If a landlord breaches a warranty of habitability, a tenant may have such remedies as terminating the tenancy, recovering damages, or withholding rent. The warranty is based in many jurisdictions either on case law or statute.

— warranty of merchantability

: a usually implied warranty that the property being sold is merchantable (as by being of a quality that is generally acceptable in that line of trade)

Note: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a warranty of merchantability is not implied unless the seller is a merchant with respect to the goods sold.

b

: a usually written guarantee of the integrity of a consumer product and of the maker's responsibility for the repair or replacement of defective parts see also Consumer Product Safety Act

3

: a statement made in an insurance policy by the insured that a fact relating to the subject of the insurance or the risk exists or will exist or that some related act has been done or will be done compare representation

Note: A warranty in an insurance policy must be true or be fulfilled in order for the policy to be valid.

— affirmative warranty

: a warranty stating that a fact or condition is currently true

— promissory warranty

: a warranty stating that a fact or condition is and will remain true

Etymology

modification (influenced by warrant) of Anglo-French garantie, from garantir to protect, warrant