vouch
VOW-ch
/vaʊtʃ/
To assert or confirm as a result of one's own experience that something is true or someone is of good character.
Personal and reputation-based. You are putting your own name on the line for someone else.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'vouchier', which comes from the Latin 'vocare' (to call). In law, it meant to call upon someone to defend a title to property.
Word relationships
- attest: Attest is more formal and often involves official documents; vouch is more personal.
- discredit: To discredit is to suggest that someone or something is not to be trusted.
Commonly confused with
- endorse: Endorsing is a public stamp of approval; vouching is a personal guarantee of truth or character.
Word family
- voucher (noun): A document that 'vouches' for a transaction or credit.
Collocations
- vouch for someone
- vouch for the truth
- vouch for the quality
Example sentences
- "I can vouch for his honesty and work ethic; we worked together for five years." Job recommendation
- "Can anyone vouch for the accuracy of these figures?" Everyday reliability
Memory hook
Vouch rhymes with 'ouch'—it might hurt your reputation if you vouch for the wrong person! Call to witness.
When not to use
Don't use it for facts you haven't personally witnessed.
Fun facts
- The word 'voucher' originally meant a person who vouched for another, before it became a piece of paper.
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