vouch
VOWCH
/vaʊtʃ/
To assert or confirm as a result of one's own experience that something is true or someone is of good character.
Usually followed by 'for'. It implies putting your own reputation on the line to support someone else.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'vouchier', meaning 'to call upon' as a witness. It ultimately comes from the Latin 'vocare'.
Word relationships
- attest: Attest is more formal and often involves a written statement or official evidence.
- guarantee: Guarantee implies a formal promise of quality or performance, often with financial backing.
- deny: Deny means to state that something is not true.
- dispute: Dispute means to challenge the truth or validity of something.
Commonly confused with
- verify: Verify means to check if something is true using facts; vouch means to support something based on personal experience.
Word family
- voucher (noun): A document that serves as evidence or can be exchanged for goods/services.
Collocations
- vouch for someone
- vouch for the truth
- vouch for the quality
Example sentences
- "I can vouch for his honesty; I've known him for over ten years." Character reference
- "The witness was able to vouch for the defendant's whereabouts on the night of the crime." Verification
Memory hook
When you vouch for someone, you use your 'voice' to 'vouch' for them. Vouch = Voice for a friend.
When not to use
Do not use 'vouch' for things you haven't personally experienced or witnessed.
Fun facts
- In the Middle Ages, 'vouching' was a legal process where a person called upon another to defend their title to property.
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