underwrite Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb guarantee financial support of
subvent; subvention.
- The opera tour was subvented by a bank
verb protect by insurance
insure; cover.
- The insurance won't cover this

imperfect Underwrote obsolete Underwrit ; past participle Underwritten obsolete Underwrit; present participle & verbal noun Underwriting

To write under something else; to subscribe.
What addition and change I have made I have here underwritten. Bp. Sanderson.
To subscribe one's name to for insurance, especially for marine insurance; to write one's name under, or set one's name to, as a policy of insurance, for the purpose of becoming answerable for loss or damage, on consideration of receiving a certain premium per cent; as, individuals, as well as companies, may underwrite policies of insurance. B. Jonson.
The broker who procures the insurance ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony. Marshall.

To practice the business of insuring; to take a risk of insurance on a vessel or the like.