Words / B2

und-uh-RYT/ˌʌndəˈraɪt/

To underwrite is to accept the risk of an insurance policy, or to guarantee funds for a project: underwrite a policy; underwrite an issue of shares. Insure is the everyday twin for buying cover; sponsor is broader. Name who underwrote the issue in the prospectus, then the £. Mix-up: underwrite vs overwrite; underwrite vs write under a line; do not write underwrite for a blog post or for a signature on minutes.

Meaning

To accept the risk of an insurance policy, or to guarantee funds for a project.

Examples

• “Name who underwrote the issue in the prospectus, then the £, the business paper said.”
• “The council underwrote the festival, which is the guarantee-funds sense — still quote the cap if given.”

Good to know

underwrite a policy / a share issue / a project. Close: insure / guarantee. Trap: overwrite / sign minutes / a blog. Business and citizenship. Take the risk or guarantee the money — name the underwriter and the £.

Near in meaning

insure, guarantee, back financially

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