ASSURANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does assurance mean? 

• ASSURANCE (noun)
  The noun ASSURANCE has 4 senses:

1. freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

2. a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something

3. a statement intended to inspire confidence

4. a British term for some kinds of insurance

  Familiarity information: ASSURANCE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASSURANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

assurance; authority; confidence; self-assurance; self-confidence; sureness

Context example:

she spoke with authority

Hypernyms ("assurance" is a kind of...):

certainty (the state of being certain)

Attribute:

certain; sure (having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured)

incertain; uncertain; unsure (lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

assurance; pledge

Context example:

signed a pledge never to reveal the secret

Hypernyms ("assurance" is a kind of...):

commitment; dedication (a message that makes a pledge)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "assurance"):

guarantee; warrant; warrantee; warranty (a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications)

guarantee (an unconditional commitment that something will happen or that something is true)

plight; troth (a solemn pledge of fidelity)

vow (a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner)

Derivation:

assure (make a promise or commitment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A statement intended to inspire confidence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

the President's assurances were not respected

Hypernyms ("assurance" is a kind of...):

statement (a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "assurance"):

clean bill of health (an assurance that someone is healthy or something is in good condition)

Derivation:

assure (assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A British term for some kinds of insurance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("assurance" is a kind of...):

insurance (promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company)

Domain region:

Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)

 Context examples 

Nothing but the serious assurance of his friend Copperfield to the contrary, he observed, could deprive him of the impression that his friend Copperfield loved and was beloved.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

When little Vladimir finally relinquished her, with assurances that he was 'desolated to leave so early', she was ready to rest, and see how her recreant knight had borne his punishment.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was evening when he at last climbed down, with a final assurance that he would keep the Indians till next morning.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mary had only to be grateful and give general assurances; but she was now very fully purposed to be the guest of neither brother nor sister many months longer.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The letter, whence sprang all this felicity, was short, containing little more than this assurance of success; and every particular was deferred till James could write again.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

God preserve my sanity, for to this I am reduced. Safety and the assurance of safety are things of the past.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Issue associated with user facility not receiving adequate service documentation, guidelines, or recommendations to perform preventive and corrective maintenance and performance assurance checks.

(Lack of Maintenance Documentation or Guidelines, Food and Drug Administration)

Issue associated with inadequate periodic preventive maintenance or performance assurance checks.

(Inadequate Medical Device Service, Food and Drug Administration)

A research program that provides specialized radiotherapy quality assurance and diagnostic imaging data management services.

(Imaging Quality Assurance Review Center, NCI Thesaurus)

Issue associated with the lack of periodic preventive maintenance or performance assurance checks.

(Medical Device Service Failure, Food and Drug Administration)