Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
assurance [uh-shoor-uhns, -shur-] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for assurance on Thesaurus.com noun
- a positive declaration intended to give confidence: He received assurances of support for the project.
- promise or pledge; guaranty; surety: He gave his assurance that the job would be done.
- full confidence; freedom from doubt; certainty: to act in the assurance of success.
- freedom from timidity; self-confidence; belief in one’s abilities: She acted with speed and assurance.
- presumptuous boldness; impudence.
- Chiefly British. insurance.
Origin of assurance 1325–75; Middle English ass(e)ura(u)nce Middle French ass(e)urance. See assure, -ance Related formspre·as·sur·ance, nounCan be confusedassurance insuranceSynonyms for assurance See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com 2. warranty, oath. 5. effrontery, impertinence, nerve, cheek.Synonym study 3. See trust. 4. See confidence.Antonyms for assurance 3–5. uncertainty. Related Words for assurance word, pledge, support, assertion, affirmation, promise, security, guarantee, certainty, warranty, lock, oath, profession, vow, declaration, warrant, insurance, shoo-in, nerve, certitude Examples from the Web for assurance Contemporary Examples of assurance
To an audience destabilized by seismic changes in the culture, he brings the assurance (and the threat) that Obama et al.
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.
Ana Marie Cox
December 20, 2014
And by pronouncing other cultures and political systems “evil,” there was the assurance that America was good.
How Obama’s Shallow Worldview Failed Us
Stuart Stevens
August 29, 2014
It was on this assurance that the FAA certified that the 787 was safe to fly again.
NTSB Doesn’t Think the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Is Safe Enough to Fly
Clive Irving
May 28, 2014
But waiting several more months for that to happen seems like an extremely risky strategy, with no assurance of success.
Looking Anew at the Iran Nuclear Agreement
Alan Elsner
December 5, 2013
Assurance eventually becomes arrogance; confidence curdles into entitlement.
The Rise of Selfie Pop: Why Songs About Self-Esteem Are All the Rage
Andrew Romano
December 3, 2013
Historical Examples of assurance
This assurance satisfied the others, but it did not satisfy Harriet.
Harriet, The Moses of Her People
Sarah H. Bradford
The letters being taken away will be an assurance that you have them.
Samuel Richardson
We aim at the assurance of a rounded and permanent national life.
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches
Various
This was what Mr. Gladstone hoped, and what he thought he had the assurance of.
Richard B. Cook
He sent up to beg leave to wait upon me—I wonder at his assurance—!
Samuel Richardson
British Dictionary definitions for assurance assurance noun
- a statement, assertion, etc, intended to inspire confidence or give encouragementshe was helped by his assurance that she would cope
- a promise or pledge of supporthe gave an assurance of help when needed
- freedom from doubt; certaintyhis assurance about his own superiority infuriated her
- forwardness; impudence
- mainly British insurance providing for certainties such as death as contrasted with fire or theft
Word Origin and History for assurance n.
late 14c., “formal or solemn pledge, promise,” also “certainty,” from Old French asseurance (11c., Modern French assurance) “assurance, promise; truce; certainty, safety, security,” from asseurer (see assure). The word had a negative tinge 18c., often suggesting impudence or presumption.