underwrite

/ˈʌndəɹaɪt/

//ˈʌndəɹaɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"underwrite" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“underwrite” is uncommon English (frequency #50,293 among 1,433 “U” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#50,293
frequency rank, English
1,433
“U” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To write below or under; subscribe.

Corpus desk

Index EN-underwrite · underwrite · English

underwrite · rank #50,293 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #50,293
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 1,433
  • PHOTO-FINISH undercard

Nearest frequency peer: undercard (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “underwrite”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “underwrite” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for underwrite
PropertyValue
Headwordunderwrite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈʌndəɹaɪt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#50,293
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “underwrite” in English

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).underwritefalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “undercard” (#50,292), “undesired” (#50,294), “unfurled” (#50,295). Among 1,433 “U” headwords, “underwrite” is #50,293. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

underwrite is uncommon English at frequency #50,293 among 1,433 “U” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈʌndəɹaɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 8 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for underwrite in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English underwriten, from Old English underwrītan (“to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe”). Compare Dutch onderschrijven (“to endorse”), German unterschreiben (“to sign; endorse”), Danish underskrive (“to sign; endorse”). By surface a… The correct English form is underwrite, spelled U-N-D-E-R-W-R-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To write below or under; subscribe.
  2. 2
    To subscribe (a document, policy etc.) with one's name.
  3. 3
    To sign; to put one's name to.
  4. 4
    To agree to pay by signing one's name; subscribe.
  5. 5
    Specifically, to assume financial responsibility for something, and guarantee it against failure.
  6. 6
    To act as an underwriter.
  7. 7
    To support, lend support to, guarantee the basis of.
  8. 8
    To submit to; put up with.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how underwrite appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Dr. Beeching's obvious intent is that if Scottish—and similarly unprofitable English and Welsh—railways are to be maintained, it must be done by an unconcealed subsidy; he is determined that the railways shall no longer be preoccupied with—and derided for—immense deficits which include the burden of social services the State must openly underwrite, if it…
  2. The broker who procures the insurance […]ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony.

Etymology

From Middle English underwriten, from Old English underwrītan (“to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe”). Compare Dutch onderschrijven (“to endorse”), German unterschreiben (“to sign; endorse”), Danish underskrive (“to sign; endorse”). By surface analysis, under- + write.

This word in other languages

suscribir(Español)unterschreiben(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "underwrite"?
"underwrite" is spelled U-N-D-E-R-W-R-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈʌndəɹaɪt/.
What does "underwrite" mean?
As a verb, "underwrite" means: To write below or under; subscribe.
How do you pronounce "underwrite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "underwrite" is /ˈʌndəɹaɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "underwrite"?
From Middle English underwriten, from Old English underwrītan (“to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe”). Compare Dutch onderschrijven (“to endorse”), German unterschreiben (“to sign; endorse”), Danish underskrive (“to sign; endorse”). By... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "underwrite", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

unscripted#50,299toleration#50,277thousandth#50,271adulterous#50,341

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list