indemnity

indemnity — noun

1. A formal promise, usually written into a contract or insurance policy, to pay so

1.名詞C1
釋義

A formal promise, usually written into a contract or insurance policy, to pay someone for any financial loss, damage, or injury they may suffer.

例句

The builder's contract included an indemnity against damage to the neighbour's house.

indemnity against + noun phrase

After the fire, the shop owners received full indemnity from the insurance company.

receive + indemnity + from + source

同義詞
  • compensation

    money paid after loss; indemnity is the promise, compensation is what is actually paid

  • insurance

    broader, everyday term; indemnity is a specific element of insurance

  • reimbursement

    focuses on getting money back for costs already spent; indemnity can cover future costs too

  • reparation

    implies making amends for wrongdoing; indemnity is more neutral

反義詞
  • liability

    the state of being legally responsible for loss or damage

  • exposure

    the risk of suffering loss without protection

文法句型

indemnity + against + noun phrase

provide + indemnity

claim + indemnity

indemnity + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Can be countable (an indemnity = a specific payment or promise) or uncountable (indemnity = the concept of protection). Frequently appears with 'against' to state the risk covered.

常見錯誤

❌I bought an indemnity for my car.
✅I bought car insurance, which includes an indemnity clause.
💡'indemnity' is not a synonym for 'insurance policy'; it refers to the promise of payment within or outside of insurance.

2. A legal state in which a person or organization is freed from the responsibility

2.名詞C1
釋義

A legal state in which a person or organization is freed from the responsibility to pay for damage, loss, or injury that has occurred.

例句

The charity workers were given legal indemnity from prosecution for helping refugees.

given + indemnity + from + prosecution

Owen signed a document granting him indemnity against any claims from the previous owner.

granting + indemnity + against + claims

同義詞
  • immunity

    broader, can be legal or non-legal; indemnity is specifically contractual or statutory

  • exemption

    general term for being free from an obligation; indemnity is more specific to legal liability

  • protection

    more general; indemnity carries a legal or contractual force

反義詞

文法句型

indemnity + from + noun phrase

grant + indemnity

indemnity + clause

seek + indemnity

indemnity + against + liability

用法筆記

Always uncountable in this sense. Most common in formal legal writing. Distinguish from sense 1 (FINANCIAL PROTECTION), where the emphasis is on receiving payment; here the emphasis is on being set free from legal responsibility.

常見錯誤

❌The company received an indemnity from taxes.
✅The company received an exemption from taxes.
💡'indemnity' relates to legal responsibility for damage or loss, not to tax.