Basic Details
Word: Assurance
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A promise that removes doubt or worry; also confidence in yourself. In British use it is also a kind of insurance.
Synonyms: promise, guarantee, confidence, pledge
Antonyms: doubt, uncertainty
How to Spell Assurance
Syllables: as - sur - ance
Tricky part: It has a double s, the e of sure is dropped, and the ending is ance, not ence.
Watch out for: asurance, assurence, assureance
Memory tip: Assure drops its e and takes ance, exactly the way insure becomes insurance. If you can spell insurance, swap in for as.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The doctor gave us an assurance that the operation would be quick.
Example 2: She played the final with calm assurance.
Example 3: We have the shopkeeper's assurance that the fan will be repaired by Monday.
Fun Fact
British firms traditionally used assurance for cover against something certain to happen, such as death, and insurance for something that only might happen, such as a fire.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. tolerence 2. acceptence 3. alliense 4. assurance
a) a promise that removes doubt
b) willingness to put up with views different from your own
c) a partnership or agreement between groups
d) willingness to receive or agree to something
Show answer
a) a promise that removes doubt. Every word here should end in ance; acceptance, alliance and tolerance have slipped, and assurance has not.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to assurance as used in the sentence:
The coach's assurance that we were ready made the whole team relax.
a) doubt
b) guarantee
c) promise
d) pledge
Show answer
a) doubt. An assurance takes doubt away, so doubt is its opposite.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
assureance
a) u
b) e
c) s
d) a
Show answer
b) e. Sure gives up its e when ance is added.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Self-assurance means ____.
a) confidence in yourself
b) a type of bank
c) a long holiday
d) a fear of others
Show answer
a) confidence in yourself
2. Which sentence shows someone giving an assurance?
a) The sky looks very cloudy this morning.
b) Please sit down and open your books.
c) Where did you keep my new school shoes?
d) I promise the work will be done by Friday.
Show answer
d) I promise the work will be done by Friday.
