insurance

[ in-shoor-uhns, -shur- ]

noun

1. the act, system, or business of insuring property, life, one's person, etc., against loss or harm arising in specified contingencies, as fire, accident, death, disablement, or the like, in consideration of a payment proportionate to the risk involved.
2. coverage by contract in which one party agrees to indemnify or reimburse another for loss that occurs under the terms of the contract.
3. the contract itself, set forth in a written or printed agreement or policy.
4. the amount for which anything is insured. insured.
5. an insurance premium.
6. any means of guaranteeing against loss or harm:

   Taking vitamin C is viewed as an insurance against catching colds.

adjective

1. of or relating to a score that increases a team's lead and insures that the lead will be held if the opposing team should score once more:

   The home run gave the team an insurance run, making the score 7-5.

insurance

/ ɪnˈʃʊərəns; -ˈʃɔː- /

noun

1. 1. the act, system, or business of providing financial protection for property, life, health, etc, against specified contingencies, such as death, loss, or damage, and involving payment of regular premiums in return for a policy guaranteeing such protection
   2. the state of having such protection
   3. Also calledinsurance policy the policy providing such protection
   4. the pecuniary amount of such protection
   5. the premium payable in return for such protection
   6. ( as modifier )

      insurance broker

      insurance agent

      insurance company

2. a means of protecting or safeguarding against risk or injury

Other Words From

• nonin·surance noun
• prein·surance noun
• proin·surance adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insurance¹

First recorded in 1545–55; insure + -ance

Example Sentences

The company blames its financial demise on its insurance, which didn’t pay to insulate Century 21 from business interruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

From Quartz

He said the interests of insurance companies and the interests of their customers were aligned when it came to the goal of helping people live longer, healthier lives.

From Fortune

“I’d put a well down there, pump it once a month and let it sit there as an insurance policy,” one hydrologist said.

From Voice of San Diego

Many insurance companies, recognizing the likelihood that it would happen again, declined to renew policies and left the state.

From ProPublica

Try and avoid using the main keyword like “casino” or “insurance” too often.

From Search Engine Watch

His life as a man is built around health insurance and tax services.

From The Daily Beast

His father, a writer, and his mother, who worked in insurance, were flawless.

From The Daily Beast

She freely admits that she was using both to self-medicate after she lost her insurance.

From The Daily Beast

More importantly, Medicaid served as a secondary insurance to his primary insurance.

From The Daily Beast

Most of them have insurance, and only a small percentage face catastrophic illness.

From The Daily Beast

He has come to believe in such things as old age pensions and national insurance.

From Project Gutenberg

Suppose one goes to the office of a general insurance agent to get insurance on his home.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the purest selfishness would dictate a policy of social insurance.

From Project Gutenberg

A delivery of a policy therefore, to an insurance broker, would be a delivery to his principal.

From Project Gutenberg

It was possible that no insurance company would take the risk on an expensive building in such a quarter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allowance
• coverage
• guarantee