indemnise

Indemnise is a verb that means to compensate someone for harm, loss, or liability, or to provide protection against future loss by guaranteeing payment or reimbursement. In British English, indemnise is the common form; in American English the variant is indemnize. The related noun forms are indemnity and indemnification, while the adjective form is indemnified.

In legal and insurance contexts, to indemnify means to assume responsibility for covering losses or damages arising under a contract, policy, or legal claim. Indemnity clauses in contracts allocate risk by having one party agree to reimburse the other for specified liabilities, such as third‑party claims, legal costs, or damages caused by the indemnifying party’s acts or omissions. Indemnification can take the form of direct payment, reimbursement of expenses, or guarantees of financial protection up to a stated limit.

Drafting and enforceability considerations include exclusions, caps on liability, and notice requirements. Indemnity obligations may be subject to governing law and can be scrutinized if they attempt to waive liability for intentional acts or gross negligence. Some jurisdictions impose restrictions on certain types of indemnities in consumer or employment contracts.

In insurance, indemnification refers to the insurer’s payment to the insured for covered losses, typically up to policy limits and subject to deductibles or co-payments. The concept differs from damages awarded by a court, although both compensate for loss. Indemnity provisions are common in business agreements, mergers and acquisitions, construction, and supplier contracts as a mechanism to allocate risk and financial exposure.