reassurance
C1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The act of making someone feel less worried or more confident by addressing their doubts or fears.
Something that provides emotional support or confirms safety, often through words or actions, to alleviate anxiety or uncertainty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Involves emotional or psychological support; can be explicit (e.g., verbal) or implicit (e.g., gestures); often relational and context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning; in American English, slightly more prevalent in therapeutic or self-help contexts.
Connotations
In British English, may carry a slightly more formal or reserved tone; in American English, often perceived as direct and supportive.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with similar usage frequencies in corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
reassurance that + clausereassurance of + nounreassurance from + personVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a word of reassurance”
- “to give someone a sense of reassurance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in corporate communications to maintain stakeholder confidence, e.g., in crisis management.
Academic
Common in psychology and sociology papers discussing emotional support mechanisms.
Everyday
Frequent in personal conversations to express need for comfort or confirmation.
Technical
In fields like medicine or engineering, for patient or safety confirmations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The teacher reassured the students about the exam format.
American English
- The manager reassured the staff regarding the new policy.
adverb
British English
- He nodded reassuringly during the discussion.
American English
- She spoke reassuringly to address their concerns.
adjective
British English
- Her reassuring tone eased everyone's worries.
American English
- The reassuring data supported our decision.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I often seek reassurance from my friends when I'm nervous.
- The doctor's reassurance made the patient feel much better.
- Public reassurance from authorities helped reduce panic during the incident.
- The CEO's strategic reassurance was pivotal in restoring investor confidence after the scandal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 're-assurance' as giving assurance again to remove doubts: re- (again) + assurance.
Conceptual Metaphor
Reassurance is an emotional anchor that stabilizes against waves of anxiety.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'страхование' (insurance); instead, use 'уверенность' for confidence or 'утешение' for comfort, depending on context.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'reassurance' with 'insurance', or incorrectly using it as a verb (correct verb is 'reassure').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'reassurance' in most contexts?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Reassurance' is a noun.
Yes, e.g., 'He required multiple reassurances before proceeding.'
'Reassurance' implies restoring confidence after doubt, while 'assurance' can be a general statement of confidence or guarantee without prior anxiety.
In business, it is often used to describe actions that maintain trust, such as 'The company provided reassurance to customers about data security.'