WordValeindemnify
to compensate someone for harm or protect against loss
In more detail
1. (verb) to protect someone from legal responsibility or financial loss by agreeing to pay for any damages or losses they suffer
2. (verb) to compensate someone for a loss or injury they have suffered
Examples
- 1. The insurance company will indemnify us against any accidents that occur on our property.
- 2. The company agreed to indemnify the workers for their medical expenses.
How to use indemnify
Indemnify is primarily used in legal and insurance contexts to describe the act of shielding someone from loss or compensating them for damages already suffered. It is more formal and legally binding than the broader term compensate, and typically involves either a contractual guarantee or reimbursement. It often appears in contracts, insurance agreements, and legal documents.
Common phrases
- indemnify against
- indemnify for
- indemnify a third party
- indemnify from liability
- mutually indemnify
Synonyms
compensate · reimburse · remunerate · make whole · hold harmless
Word family
indemnity · indemnification · indemnifying · indemnified
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse indemnify with indemnity (the noun form referring to compensation or protection itself), and may incorrectly use the verb transitively without specifying what the indemnification is against or for.
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