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guarantee
/ˌɡærənˈti/
formal promise of quality or performance
The manufacturer offers a two-year guarantee on all products.
The company formally promises to repair or replace items if they fail within two years.
formal
A formal promise or assurance that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality.
The warranty guarantees your car against major defects for five years.
The warranty formally promises that the car will be repaired or replaced if major defects occur within five years.
She gave me her guarantee that the meeting would start on time.
She formally promised that the meeting would begin punctually.
Often used in contracts, warranties, and business agreements to ensure reliability.
formal
To provide a formal assurance or promise regarding something.
The bank guarantees the loan with the borrower's collateral.
The bank formally promises to recover the loan using the borrower's assets as security.
Common in finance and legal contexts to assure repayment or performance.
figurative
Something that makes a specified outcome certain; a guarantee of success.
His experience is a guarantee of a successful project.
His experience ensures that the project will likely succeed.
Used metaphorically to indicate something that ensures a positive result.
Collocations
money-back guaranteea promise to refund if not satisfiedlifetime guaranteea promise valid for the entire life of the productguaranteed incomeassured earningsguarantee periodthe duration of a warranty
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Distinguish 'guarantee' vs 'warranty'
'Guarantee' is broader and can refer to any formal promise, while 'warranty' typically refers to a written guarantee for a product or service. Example: 'The store offered a money-back guarantee, but the manufacturer provided a 5-year warranty.'
Gold Rule
Use 'guarantee' for promises, 'ensure' for outcomes
Use 'guarantee' when a promise is made (e.g., 'The contract guarantees delivery'). Use 'ensure' to describe making something certain (e.g., 'Proper planning ensures success').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'garantie', from Old French 'garantie', from 'garant' (warrantor), of Germanic origin; related to 'warrant'. The verb sense emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Used in both legal/business contexts (formal promises) and everyday language (metaphorical assurance). The noun is countable ('a guarantee'), while the verb is transitive ('to guarantee something').
Word Breakdown
guarant-
from Old French 'garant' (warrantor)
root-ee
suffix indicating a person or thing receiving the action
suffixEnglish Dictionary