warranty

warranty — noun

1. a document from a seller stating that the seller will fix a faulty product or gi

1.nounB2
Definition

a document from a seller stating that the seller will fix a faulty product or give the buyer a new one, at no extra cost, for a defined period after purchase

Example

Saira checked the warranty before buying a secondhand laptop from her friend.

collocation: check the warranty

According to the warranty, Kemi can get her tablet fixed at any authorised shop.

collocation: according to the warranty

Common collocations
  • under warranty
  • within the warranty period
  • register a warranty
  • extend a warranty
  • warranty covers
  • warranty expires / runs out
  • warranty on [product]
  • out of warranty
  • valid warranty
  • limited warranty
Synonyms
  • guarantee

    A more general term that can be written or oral; carries less legal weight than a formal warranty

  • assurance

    A broader, less binding promise that gives confidence but has no legal force

  • pledge

    A moral rather than legal commitment; less specific about repair or replacement terms

Grammar Patterns

under + warranty

warranty + verb (covers / expires / runs out)

warranty on + product

Usage Note

Frequently used with the preposition 'under' (e.g., 'the phone is still under warranty') to indicate that the warranty period is still active. A warranty is a legal document, whereas a 'guarantee' can be a less formal promise.

Common Mistakes

My laptop is still in warranty.
My laptop is still under warranty.
The correct preposition with warranty when indicating coverage is 'under', not 'in'.
The warranty is expired.' (when meaning the period)
The warranty has expired.' or 'The warranty period is over.
Use 'expire' or 'run out' for the warranty itself; 'expired' as an adjective is informal.
I have one year warranty.
I have a one-year warranty.
'Warranty' is a countable noun, so it needs an article when singular.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Warranty, guarantee, and assurance all refer to promises about products or outcomes, but they differ in formality and legal standing. A warranty is always a written, legally binding document from a seller or manufacturer that spells out repair or replacement terms. A guarantee can be written or oral and is often less formal — a shop might guarantee your satisfaction without issuing a written warranty. An assurance is a broad statement meant to give confidence but carries no legal obligation. A pledge is a moral rather than legal commitment to do something. For example: a buyer receives a written warranty covering engine repairs for three years; the same dealer might give a verbal guarantee that the car runs well; the advert offers the assurance of 'years of reliable driving'; and the mechanic makes a pledge to finish the work by Friday.

guaranteeassurance ↗pledge ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • warranty period
  • warranty card
  • warranty claim
  • warranty registration

Phrases

  • still under warranty
  • covered by the warranty
  • the warranty runs out / expires

Prepositions

  • under warranty
  • out of warranty
  • within the warranty period

Etymology

Anglo-FrenchEnglish

Warranty comes from the Anglo-French word 'warrantie', meaning 'safety, protection, or authority'. It entered English legal usage in the 1300s as a promise to protect someone's right to property. The modern consumer meaning — a company's written promise to repair or replace a faulty product — emerged in the late 1800s and early 1900s as factories began producing goods on a large scale and buyers needed a way to hold sellers accountable for defects.