guarantee

From Old French guarantie (perhaps via a later Spanish garante), from the verb guarantir (“to protect, assure, vouch for”), ultimately from Old Frankish *warjand, *warand (“a warrant”), or from guaranty. Doublet of guaranty, warranty.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌɡæɹənˈtiː/

• Audio (US)

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guarantee (plural guarantees)

1. Anything that assures a certain outcome.

   Can you give me a guarantee that he will be fit for the match?

2. A legal assurance of something, e.g. a security for the fulfillment of an obligation.
3. More specifically, a written declaration that a certain product will be fit for a purpose and work correctly; a warranty

   The cooker comes with a five-year guarantee.

4. The person to whom a guarantee is made.
5. (colloquial) A person who gives such a guarantee; a guarantor.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of South to this entry?)

guarantee (third-person singular simple present guarantees, present participle guaranteeing, simple past and past participle guaranteed)

1. To give an assurance that something will be done right.
2. To assume responsibility for a debt or other obligation.
3. To make something certain.

   The long sunny days guarantee a good crop.

• assure
• warrant

• guaranty
• guarantor