insured

American  

[in-shoord, -shurd] / ɪnˈʃʊərd, -ˈʃɜrd /

noun

1. the person, group, or organization whose life or property is covered by an insurance policy.

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insured British  

/ -ˈʃɔːd, ɪnˈʃʊəd /

adjective

1. covered by insurance

   an insured risk

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noun

1. the person, persons, or organization covered by an insurance policy

Other Word Forms

• uninsured adjective
• well-insured adjective

Etymology

Origin of insured

First recorded in 1675–85; insure + -ed ²

Compare meaning

How does insured compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bonded vs. insured

Explanation

Something that's insured is protected by an insurance policy — in other words, its loss or damage will be compensated by an insurance company. If your laptop is insured, you'll get enough money to replace it if it's stolen. If an insured house burns down or is damaged in a storm, an insurance company will pay to repair or replace it. In exchange, the homeowner pays monthly (or sometimes annual) fees. If you have a life insurance policy or insurance that covers your health care, you are also insured. Insured, by way of the verb insure, comes from the original ensure, which has the roots en-, "make," and sure, "safe, strong, or resolute."

Example Sentences

Note: Point-of-sale price paid for privately insured individuals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

If a system fails to verify a delivery, the food cannot be released, insured, sold, or legally distributed.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

It noted the fires were the third-worst natural disaster in American history in terms of insured losses, at $40 billion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Executives in London -- the world's top shipping insurance market -- insisted captains were avoiding the route to protect their crews, not because they could not get insured.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

By early 2006 he openly agreed with Gene Park: AIG FP shouldn’t insure any more of these deals—though they would continue to insure the ones they had already insured.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• guaranteed
• protected