surety
surety — noun
1. a person who formally agrees to take responsibility for someone else's debt or o
a person who formally agrees to take responsibility for someone else's debt or other legal obligation if that person fails to meet it; or money or property given to show that a promise, such as paying a debt or appearing in court, will be kept
Ziad agreed to act as surety for his brother's business loan at the bank.
act as surety for [person]
The landlord asked for a surety of two months' rent before handing over the keys.
Kwame's uncle stood surety for the court appearance after the accident.
Manuela signed the papers to become a surety for her cousin's rental contract.
- guarantor
Nearly interchangeable; 'guarantor' is slightly more common in modern banking contexts, while 'surety' is more common in legal documents and court settings.
- collateral
Refers specifically to property or assets offered as security, never to a person; 'surety' can refer to either a person or money/property.
- bail
Limited to the specific context of securing a defendant's release from custody before trial; 'surety' has a broader range of financial and legal uses.
- deposit
A deposit is money paid upfront that may be returned; a surety is a promise to pay only if a default occurs.
文法句型
act as surety
stand surety for someone
be surety for someone/something
用法筆記
Common in legal and financial contexts. The person offering the guarantee is called a surety; the person being guaranteed is the principal debtor. Frequently used in the phrase 'stand surety for' or 'act as surety for'.
常見錯誤
2. the feeling of being completely sure that something is true or correct; total co
the feeling of being completely sure that something is true or correct; total confidence that a fact or outcome is reliable
The old fisherman spoke with surety about the storm that was coming.
speak with surety
Lakan could not answer the judge's question with any surety, so he remained silent.
There is no surety that the ferry will depart on time during the typhoon season.
Vivek answered the question with such surety that everyone believed him at once.
- certainty
Much more common in everyday English; 'certainty' is neutral in register while 'surety' feels dated or very formal.
- confidence
Emphasizes personal faith in an outcome rather than objective fact; 'I have full confidence' is natural, while 'I have full surety' sounds archaic.
- assurance
Can be a promise given by one person to another; 'surety' in this sense is more about internal conviction than an external promise.
- doubt
The opposite state of mind — lack of surety equals doubt.
- uncertainty
The absence of sureness; uncertainty is the more common modern term for this concept.
文法句型
with surety
of surety
no surety that...
用法筆記
Now largely restricted to formal writing, literature, and set phrases. In everyday modern English, 'certainty' or 'confidence' is far more common. Often appears in negative constructions (e.g. 'no surety that…') or in the phrase 'with surety'.