Bonded

How to spell bonded

6 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce bonded

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does bonded mean?

1. verbFormed a close relationship, or became firmly joined or attached to something.
2. adjectiveHeld under a legal or financial bond, especially goods stored until import duty is paid.

Bonded in a sentence

• verb

  The two new colleagues quickly bonded over their shared love of cycling.

• adjective

  The imported wine is kept in a bonded warehouse until the duty is settled.

• verb

  The adhesive has bonded the two panels so tightly that they cannot be pulled apart.

• adjective

  Every removal firm we considered was fully insured and bonded for our protection.

Where does bonded come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

The base word 'bond' comes from Middle English 'bond' or 'band', a variant of 'band' meaning anything that ties or fastens, and it traces back through Old Norse 'band' to a common Germanic root linked to the verb 'bind'. The literal early sense was a physical cord or fetter that held something fast, and from there the meaning branched into the legal and financial 'bond' (a binding written agreement or promise to pay) and the emotional 'bond' (a tie of affection or loyalty). The past-tense and adjectival form 'bonded' simply adds the regular '-ed' ending, giving senses such as people who have formed a close tie, materials joined firmly together, and goods held under a customs bond. Because 'bond' and 'bind' share the same ancestor, you can picture 'bonded' as anything that has been bound, which also explains why it keeps the single 'd' of the root before the '-ed'. The financial sense grew in importance from the late medieval period onward as written promissory documents became central to trade.

How the word is built

• bond (a binding tie or fastening)
• -ed (past tense / adjectival suffix)