vouch

1 of 2

verb

vouched; vouching; vouches

intransitive verb

1
a
: to supply supporting evidence or testimony
b
: to give personal assurance
2
: to give a guarantee : become surety

transitive verb

1
: to summon into court to warrant or defend a title
2
b
: to verify (a business transaction) by examining documentary evidence
3
archaic
a
b
: attest
4
archaic : to cite or refer to as authority or supporting evidence

vouch

2 of 2

noun

obsolete
Choose the Right Synonym for vouch

certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something.

certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

witnessed the signing of the will

vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

Examples of vouch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Her family rebutted that everyone in Diallo’s life could vouch that the Dolezals were indeed her parents, and her grandparents were even present for her birth. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 Although Crimo could legally vouch for his son on state firearm forms, Lake County prosecutors allege the father’s actions were reckless. Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2023 Users can also vouch for one another’s abilities. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 The Kendalls and Haileys of street style can vouch for stylist Karla Welch's collaboration with Hanes, particularly in the cropped tee department. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Apr. 2022 Brown can vouch for that, too. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2022 Even with the area’s tremendous growth, locals vouch that Santa Ynez retains its neighborly vibe. Elycia Rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2023 When those reports first appeared in June, the woman said, Ms. Blanchard asked her to publicly vouch for Mr. Walker’s on-time child support payments in an effort to make the case that Mr. Walker was a responsible father. Jonah E. Bromwich, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2022 To find the right venues and comedians, Levine and Mansoor are going to comedy shows multiple times a week, frequently appearing at venues of interest to vouch for themselves and staying persistent. Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2022
Noun
Those close to him vouch that’s the real Bancroft – respectful and mild-mannered but curious. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 Mariah Kalia can vouch. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2023 While advocates in Pima County vouch for a public health option for the uninsured, other counties across the country are proving that health care for everyone is possible. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 30 Dec. 2022 That these companies are featured so often in 'best of' articles is a good vouch for their quality. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2022 The measure also calls for permit holders to undergo gun safety training and would set up a vetting process that requires non-family references to vouch for applicants. From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2022 Plus, the concept of having a trusted party vouch for your humanity is also being built into the internet’s basic standards. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 20 June 2022 On Tuesday, the Senate Democratic leader, New York’s Charles E. Schumer, conspicuously declined when asked by reporters to vouch for Feinstein’s fitness to serve. Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2022 Before receiving his sentence, Smollett declined to address the court, but his defense team brought longtime friends of the actor to the stand to vouch for his character. Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE.com, 16 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vouch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English vochen, vouchen, from Anglo-French voucher to call, vouch, from Latin vocare to call, summon, from vox voice — more at voice

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vouch was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near vouch

Cite this Entry

“Vouch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vouch. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vouch

verb
ˈvau̇ch
1
: to give a guarantee
vouch for the truth of a story
2
: to supply supporting evidence or testimony

Legal Definition

vouch

verb

transitive verb

1
: to summon into court
2
: to verify (a business transaction) by examining documentary evidence

intransitive verb

1
: to become surety
2
a
: to supply supporting evidence or testimony
b
: to give personal assurance
Etymology

Verb

Anglo-French voucher to call, summon, summon to court as guarantor of a title, ultimately from Latin vocare to call, summon

More from Merriam-Webster on vouch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!