Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who signs a document in addition to the main signer: A cosigner adds their signature to a document, such as a loan application or contract, alongside the primary person responsible. Their role is often to guarantee or verify the agreement.
   • A joint signer of a document: One of two or more people who sign the same formal document, like a treaty or declaration, indicating shared agreement or responsibility.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The bank required a cosigner for the loan because the applicant had no credit history. (The additional signer provided a guarantee for the primary borrower.)
  • Both leaders acted as cosigners on the peace treaty. (They were joint signatories of the important document.)

Advanced Usage

• Legal and Financial Context: The term is most common in legal and financial settings. A cosigner on a loan assumes equal legal responsibility for repaying the debt if the primary borrower fails to do so.
  • As a cosigner on her sister's apartment lease, she was liable for any unpaid rent.

Variants and Related Words

• Cosign (verb): To sign a document jointly with another person.
  • He agreed to cosign the loan application.
• Cosignatory (noun): A synonym often used in formal or diplomatic contexts for a joint signer.
  • The treaty had five cosignatories from different nations.

Synonyms

• Guarantor: A person who promises to be responsible for another's debt or obligations.
• Joint signer: A person who signs together with another.
• Surety: A person who takes responsibility for another's performance, such as paying a debt.

Related Phrases

• To act as a cosigner: To take on the role of a cosigner.
  • He was hesitant to act as a cosigner due to the financial risk.
• Require a cosigner: To need an additional signer as a condition of an agreement.
  • The contract will require a cosigner with a strong credit score.

Noun

1. a signer in addition to the principal signer (to verify the authenticity of the principal signature or to provide surety)
2. one of two or more signers of the same document (as a treaty or declaration)