indemnify

verb

in·​dem·​ni·​fy in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī 

indemnified; indemnifying

transitive verb

1

: to secure against hurt, loss, or damage

2

: to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss, or damage

indemnifier

in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• compensate
• recompense
• recoup
• remunerate
• requite
• satisfy

Choose the Right Synonym for indemnify

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something.

pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of indemnify in a Sentence

Again, let's look at auto insurance, which indemnifies the holder against loss. If a policy-holder's car is wrecked, the insurance company sends him a check for the value of the car … —John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, May–June 1992

We moved quickly, and the House approved an appropriation of $60,000 to indemnify Hamilton Jordan for his legal fees. —Tip O'Neill, in Man of the House, 1987

Likewise, the "sexagenarians law," which freed slaves over 60 years old, required those slaves to indemnify their masters, as did nearly every act of manumission. —Shepard Foreman, New York Times Book Review, 2 Nov. 1986

the company generously indemnifies workers who are injured on the job

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, hours after Johnston took office as Denver’s newest mayor in mid-July of that year, the Aurora City Council narrowly voted to chuck the cities’ mutual-aid pact until its neighbor agreed to fully indemnify Aurora officers. —Max Levy, The Denver Post, 2 Feb. 2025

Second, if the IP representations and warranties are untrue at either of such times, the buyer may be entitled to be indemnified post-closing for any damages arising from such misrepresentation by the seller. —Allbusiness, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025

Importantly, companies are prohibited from indemnifying any current or former executive officers against clawbacks. —Priya Cherian Huskins, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

The episode left policymakers skeptical about trusting their health-care professionals and determined never again to indemnify drug makers; manufacturers, in turn, ran for cover, and some drug companies shed their vaccine production lines entirely. —Laurie Garrett, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2015

Word History

Etymology

Latin indemnis unharmed, from in- + damnum damage

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for indemnify

• acidify
• alveoli
• areolae
• demystify
• detoxify
• disqualify
• diversify
• electrify
• exemplify
• fasciculi
• identify
• intensify

Kids Definition

indemnify

verb

in·​dem·​ni·​fy in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī 

indemnified; indemnifying

1

: to insure or protect against loss, damage, or injury

2

: to give something in order to make up for loss, damage, or injury

indemnify victims of a disaster

indemnification

-ˌdem-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

indemnify

transitive verb

in·​dem·​ni·​fy in-ˈdem-nə-ˌfī 

indemnified; indemnifying

1

: to secure against hurt, loss, or damage

2

: to compensate or reimburse for incurred hurt, loss, or damage

indemnifier noun

Etymology

Latin indemnis unharmed, from in- not + damnum damage