assurance
uh-SHAW-ruhns
Assurance (noun) means a confident promise or statement meant to remove doubt. Example: “The manager gave us her assurance that the repairs would be finished soon.”
noun
1
A confident promise or statement meant to remove doubt.
"The manager gave us her assurance that the repairs would be finished soon."
"Despite the doctor's assurances, he still felt worried about the test."
"He gave his assurance that the deadline would be met."
2
Confidence in oneself; self-assured certainty.
"He walked onto the stage with calm assurance."
"Years of practice gave the young pianist a quiet assurance."
"She spoke with the assurance of someone who knew the subject cold."
3
British English term for insurance, especially life insurance.
"Many people in Britain pay for assurance to protect their family if they die."
"The adviser explained the difference between a pension and a life assurance plan."
"He took out a life assurance policy for his family."
How to use assurance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA confident promise, or the feeling of confidence itself; in British English, also a term for insurance.
UK vs US
British English traditionally distinguishes "life assurance" (a policy that will definitely pay out eventually) from general "insurance" — American English tends to use "insurance" for both.
Common pairings
give assurance
quiet assurance
life assurance
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like assurance.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- assurances
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The manager gave us her _____ that the repairs would be finished soon.
Etymology
From Old French asseürance, from asseürer ("to assure"), from Latin ad- plus securus ("safe, secure").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for assurance
See all rhymes for assurance →Frequently asked questions
What does “assurance” mean?
The word “assurance” means a confident promise or statement meant to remove doubt. In plain terms, a confident promise, or the feeling of confidence itself; in British English, also a term for insurance.
How do you pronounce “assurance”?
“Assurance” is pronounced uh-SHAW-ruhns (/əˈʃʊɹəns/ in IPA).
How do you use “assurance” in a sentence?
Here is “assurance” used in a sentence: “He gave his assurance that the deadline would be met.”
What part of speech is “assurance”?
“Assurance” is a noun.
Where does the word “assurance” come from?
The word “assurance” comes from Latin. From Old French asseürance, from asseürer ("to assure"), from Latin ad- plus securus ("safe, secure").
Is “assurance” a common word?
“Assurance” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “assurance” have?
“Assurance” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a confident promise or statement meant to remove doubt.
What is the difference between assurance and insurance?
In British English, assurance is used specifically for life insurance, referring to a policy that guarantees a payout because the insured event, death, is certain to happen eventually. Insurance covers events that may or may not occur, such as fire or theft, making assurance a narrower, older term still used in the life-cover industry.
What is the difference between assurance and confidence?
Assurance can refer to a confident promise given to someone else to remove their doubt, or to a person's own inner self-assured certainty. Confidence usually describes only the internal feeling, whereas assurance can also describe the external act of reassuring someone.
Why do British companies use the word assurance instead of insurance?
British insurers traditionally use assurance for life cover because the event being covered, death, is certain rather than merely possible, unlike car or home insurance. This distinction is largely historical and industry-specific, and the terms are sometimes used loosely today.
