guarantee

[gar-uh n-tee] /ˌgær ənˈti/
noun
1.
a promise or assurance, especially one in writing, that something is of specified quality, content, benefit, etc., or that it will perform satisfactorily for a given length of time:
a money-back guarantee.
2.
guaranty (defs 1, 2).
3.
something that assures a particular outcome or condition:
Wealth is no guarantee of happiness.
4.
a person who gives a guarantee or guaranty; guarantor.
5.
a person to whom a guarantee is made.
verb (used with object), guaranteed, guaranteeing.
6.
to secure, as by giving or taking security.
7.
to make oneself answerable for (something) on behalf of someone else who is primarily responsible:
to guarantee the fulfillment of a contract.
8.
to undertake to ensure for another, as rights or possessions.
9.
to serve as a warrant or guaranty for.
10.
to engage to protect or indemnify:
to guarantee a person against loss.
11.
to engage (to do something).
12.
to promise (usually followed by a clause as object):
I guarantee that I'll be there.
Origin
1670-80; alteration of guaranty
Related forms
nonguarantee, noun
preguarantee, noun, verb (used with object), preguaranteed, preguaranteeing.
quasi-guaranteed, adjective
reguarantee, noun, verb (used with object), reguaranteed, reguaranteeing.
superguarantee, noun, verb, superguaranteed, superguaranteeing.
unguaranteed, adjective
Can be confused
guarantee, guaranty, warrantee, warranty.
Examples from the web for guarantee
  • Their agreement doesn't guarantee certainty, only a good bet.
  • The bank-loan guarantee and expanded deposit-insurance limits should eliminate that risk.
  • How I guarantee happiness at the end of every course.
  • It may be a glitch, but I guarantee you that they are using it to their full advantage.
  • He had very good news, he said: He could guarantee that the next morning we would see a bonobo.
  • The triennial competition she has endowed will guarantee that future generations can share her appreciation.
  • The shopping guarantee works two ways.
  • Because almost all battery guarantees are prorated by the month.
  • Adequate preheating and sufficient coals should guarantee that the grill is hot when it is time to cook fish.
  • There's no guarantee, though, that your fund's yield will exceed the rising rate of inflation.
British Dictionary definitions for guarantee

guarantee

/ˌɡærənˈtiː/
noun
1.
a formal assurance, esp in writing, that a product, service, etc, will meet certain standards or specifications
2.
(law) a promise, esp a collateral agreement, to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another
3.
  1. a person, company, etc, to whom a guarantee is made
  2. a person, company, etc, who gives a guarantee
4.
a person who acts as a guarantor
5.
something that makes a specified condition or outcome certain
6.
a variant spelling of guaranty
verb (mainly transitive) -tees, -teeing, -teed
7.
(also transitive) to take responsibility for (someone else's debts, obligations, etc)
8.
to serve as a guarantee for
9.
to secure or furnish security for: a small deposit will guarantee any dress
10.
usually foll by from or against. to undertake to protect or keep secure, as against injury, loss, etc
11.
to ensure: good planning will guarantee success
12.
(may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to promise or make certain
Word Origin
C17: perhaps from Spanish garante or French garant, of Germanic origin; compare warrant
Word Origin and History for guarantee
n.

1670s, alterted (perhaps via Spanish garante), from earlier garrant "warrant that the title to a property is true," early 15c., from Old French garant "defender, protector," from Germanic (see warrant (n.)). For form evolution, see gu-. Originally "person giving something as security;" sense of the "pledge" itself (which is properly a guaranty) developed 17c.

v.

1791, from guarantee (n.). Garanten in this sense is from early 15c. Related: Guaranteed; guaranteeing.