insure

verb

in-SHUUR/ɪnˈʃʊɚ/UKin-SHAW/ɪnˈʃɔː(ɹ)/

Often confused with ensure

3 meanings of insure

1
verbtransitive
To provide for compensation if a specified risk occurs, often through a policy promising financial payment after an accident, theft or other unwanted event.
Many homeowners insure their houses against fire and storm damage.
The museum's paintings are insured for far more than the museum paid for them.
Similarcover, underwrite
Note
Insurance is a later job for this verb: it began as a variant of Middle English ensuren, "to make sure," and took on the business of premiums only in 1635, replacing assure. Two prepositions do most of the work. You insure something against a risk (against burglary, against fire) and for a sum (insured for far more than it cost).
2
verbtransitive
Alternative spelling of ensure.
The committee posted extra guards to insure the safety of the delegates.
The latest in automation equipment, combined with highly skilled craftsmen, insure the high quality of the Packard Clipper.
1954, Packard Motor Car Company, Packard Clipper Owner's Manual
Note
Insure and ensure are doublets of one verb, and in American writing insure long did both jobs: the Constitution of 1787 sets out to insure domestic Tranquility, and Melville's Billy Budd and the Packard Clipper Owner's Manual of 1954 still use it for making certain. That use is still standard in American English, but many style guides keep insure for cover by a policy and prefer ensure, often with a that-clause, for making sure.
3
verbintransitive
To deal in insurance contracts, or to take out a policy of insurance.
Many families insure with the same company for decades out of habit.
The firm stopped insuring in coastal areas after a run of costly hurricanes.

Practice

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Origin

First attested around 1440 as a variant of Middle English ensuren, from Anglo-Norman enseurer (en- + seür, "sure"), probably influenced by Old French asseürer ("to assure"). It took on the sense "to protect against loss by paying premiums" in 1635, replacing assure; it is a doublet of ensure.