- a person or enterprise that underwrites public issues of shares, bonds, etc
- a person or enterprise that underwrites insurance policies
- an employee or agent of an insurance company who assesses risks and determines the premiums payable
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•der•writ•er
(un′dər rī′tər),USA pronunciation n.
- Businessa person or company that underwrites policies of insurance or carries on insurance as a business.
- Businessa person or company that underwrites shares or bonds.
- Businessa person or organization that finances something;
backer:the underwriters of the ballet company.
- underwrite + -er1 1610–20
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
underwriter /ˈʌndəˌraɪtə/ n
un•der•write /ˌʌndɚˈraɪt, ˈʌndɚˌraɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -wrote, -writ•ten, -writ•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to give or contribute a sum of money to guarantee the success of (an undertaking):to underwrite the building of a new library.
- [Insurance.]
- Businessto write one's name at the end of (a policy), thereby becoming responsible in case of certain losses.
- Businessto insure, as for a certain sum.
un•der•write
(un′dər rīt′, un′dər rīt′),USA pronunciation v., -wrote, -writ•ten, -writ•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
v.t.
- to write under or at the foot of, esp. under other written matter.
- to sign one's name, as to a document.
- to show agreement with or to support by or as if by signing one's name to, as a statement or decision.
- to bind oneself to contribute a sum of money to (an undertaking):Wealthy music lovers underwrote the experimental concerts.
- Businessto guarantee the sale of (a security issue to be offered to the public for subscription).
- [Insurance.]
- Businessto write one's name at the end of (a policy), thereby becoming liable in case of certain losses specified in the policy.
- Businessto insure.
- Businessto assume liability to the extent of (a specified sum) by way of insurance.
- Businessto select or rate (risks) for insurance.
v.i.
- to underwrite something.
- Businessto carry on the business of an underwriter.
- late Middle English, translation of Latin subscrībere to write underneath, sign, subscribe 1400–50
'underwriter' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
spread
- abandon
- carrier
- CLU
- CPCU
- insurer
- public offering
- underwrite
- U/W
- self-insurance