cosign: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal for financial/legal meaning; Informal/Slang for endorsement meaning.
Quick answer
What does “cosign” mean?
To formally sign a legal or financial document jointly with another party, especially agreeing to share responsibility for a debt.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To formally sign a legal or financial document jointly with another party, especially agreeing to share responsibility for a debt.
In informal usage (originating in African American Vernacular English and now mainstream), to publicly express agreement with or endorsement of someone's statement, opinion, or action; to show support.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal/financial sense is identical. The informal 'endorsement' sense originated in and remains more strongly associated with American English, though it is understood in the UK via global media.
Connotations
In the US, the informal sense is widely understood in pop culture and social media contexts. In the UK, the financial sense is primary; the informal sense may be seen as an Americanism.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the dual formal/informal meanings. Primarily formal/financial in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “cosign” in a Sentence
[Subject] cosigns [Object: document/loan][Subject] cosigns [Prepositional: with NP] on [Object][Subject] cosigns [Prepositional: on NP] (informal endorsement)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cosign” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- His father had to cosign the loan for his first car.
- The bank requires a guarantor to cosign the agreement.
American English
- I totally cosign everything she said in her video.
- Can you cosign my apartment lease? Your credit score is better.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in banking and finance for joint loan agreements.
Academic
Rare; potentially in legal or economic papers discussing credit.
Everyday
Increasingly common in informal digital communication meaning 'I agree'.
Technical
Specific to legal and financial documentation processes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cosign”
- Misspelling as 'co-sign' (hyphenated form is less common now).
- Using the informal sense in formal writing without clarification.
- Confusing with 'cosine' in mathematics (homophone).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Legally, 'cosign' implies shared liability (e.g., for a debt). 'Endorse' can mean to sign, but also to recommend generally without the same legal weight. Informally, they are synonyms.
Yes, 'co-sign' is an older, variant spelling. Modern dictionaries often list 'cosign' as the standard, especially for the informal sense, but both are understood.
It is primarily a verb. The related noun is 'cosigner' (the person who cosigns). 'Cosign' itself is rarely used as a noun.
It is a serious legal and financial commitment. If the primary borrower fails to pay, the cosigner is fully responsible for the entire debt, and their credit score is affected.
To formally sign a legal or financial document jointly with another party, especially agreeing to share responsibility for a debt.
Cosign is usually formal for financial/legal meaning; informal/slang for endorsement meaning. in register.
Cosign: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊ.saɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊ.saɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “I'll cosign that (informal: I agree strongly)”
- “need a cosign (informal: need public support)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CO-' meaning 'together' + 'SIGN'. You are signing TOGETHER with someone, either on paper or in spirit.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS A SIGNATURE (Informal: publicly supporting an idea is like adding your name to it).
Practice
Quiz
In an informal social media context, what does 'I cosign that' typically express?