co-signing

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   Signing a document, especially a loan or lease, together with another person, agreeing to be responsible if they do not pay.

   Grammar: Can be used with an object (co-sign a loan) or without (He co-signed for her). The -ing form is 'co-signing'.

   Patterns

   • co-sign a loan
   • co-sign for someone

   By co-signing the lease, he became responsible for the rent if she didn't pay.

   She is co-signing a loan for her son's first car.

   Co-signing a loan can affect your own credit score.

2. 2noununcountable

   The act of signing a document jointly with another person, especially to guarantee a loan.

   Grammar: Uncountable; refers to the action or process.

   Patterns

   • the co-signing of something

   The bank requires the co-signing of the agreement by both parties.

   Co-signing is a serious commitment.

Word forms

Common combinations

co-sign a loan

Her father agreed to co-sign the loan.

co-sign for someone

He co-signed for his friend's apartment.

co-signing a lease

Co-signing a lease means you are legally responsible for the rent.

Synonyms and how they differ

guarantee

Guarantee is broader and can mean promising to pay a debt without necessarily signing the document yourself.

Word family

co-sign verb

To sign a document jointly with someone else.

co-signer noun

A person who signs a loan or lease with another and shares responsibility.

Commonly confused: co-signing or cosign?

Practice

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