在合同或协议中，人们常见indemnify和hold harmless (也称为save harmless)两术语连用的情况，如：We will indemnify and hold you harmless form any loss which may be incurred.[1]。 有关这两个术语的解释和认识，不少法律词典或著述有一定差异， 如Bryan A. Gamer 在其主编的著名的 Black's Law Dictionary (7th edition)以及 A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage 中，认为这两个术语完全无任何实质性的差异，应为同源异形词（doublets)， 同时一起使用只是因法律人的习惯，为一种同义词连用习惯 (synonym strings) [2]。而其他词典，如 Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law等则认为indemnify主要指“担保不受到损失或损害” 或“即便受到损失也同意予以补偿”，而hold harmless则主要是指“自己承担责任而免去对方的责任”[3]。在Practical Guide to Everyday Law —书中，作者更明确指出indemnify是指“担保某人不受任何损失或损害”；而hold harmless则是“保护某人不得 因承担责任而受到法律诉讼指控” [4]。就上述种种见解而言，笔者更倾向于Webster与Gail的观点，拟将indemnify译为“担保免受损害”；而将hold harmless译为“免责”。以此类推，hold harmless agreement 则为“免责协议”；Hold harmless clause 即 “免责条款”。

[1] Cf. Henson and Davenport，Uniform Commercial Code Forms and Materials, at p. 356, West Publishing Co. (1985).

[2] Cf. Bryan A Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at pp. 772, 737，West Group (1999). Cf. Bryan A Gamer, A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage，2th edition, at p. 436，Oxford University Press Ltd. (1995).

[3]“hold harmless：To release from liability or responsibility for loss or damage；to abandon any claim that one might have against someone" Cf. James E. Clapp，Random House Websters Dictionary of the Law, at p. 212, Random House (2000) ； “ indemnify: 1. to secure against hurt，loss，or damage 2. to compensate or reimburse for incurred hurt，loss，or damage" Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. , Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 240，Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).

[4]“Indemnify means to secure you against loss or damage. Hold harmless means to protect you against legal action." Cf. Gail J. Koff, Practical Guide to Every Law, at p. 208, Simon & Schuster, Inc.，New York (1985).