policy

¹ American  

[pol-uh-see] / ˈpɒl ə si /

noun

plural

policies

1. a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc..

   We have a new company policy.

   Synonyms:

   rule, principle, strategy

2. a course of action adopted and pursued by a government, ruler, political party, etc..

   our nation's foreign policy.

3. action or procedure conforming to or considered with reference to prudence or expediency.

   It was good policy to consent.

4. prudence or expediency; shrewdness.

   Showing great policy, he pitted his enemies against one another.

   Synonyms:

   wit, calculation, acumen, prudence

   Antonyms:

   naiveté

5. Rare. government; polity.

---

policy ² American  

[pol-uh-see] / ˈpɒl ə si /

noun

plural

policies

1. a document embodying a contract of insurance.

2. a method of gambling in which bets are made on numbers to be drawn by lottery.

3. numbers pool.

---

policy ¹ British  

/ ˈpɒlɪsɪ /

noun

1. a plan of action adopted or pursued by an individual, government, party, business, etc

2. wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity

3. (often plural) the improved grounds surrounding a country house

---

policy ² British  

/ ˈpɒlɪsɪ /

noun

1. a document containing a contract of insurance

---

Usage

What does policy mean? Policy most commonly refers to a rule or plan of action, especially an official one adopted and followed by a group, organization, or government.Policy is most commonly used in the context of laws (government policy), a country’s course of action toward others (foreign policy), and the standards or rules that all members of an organization must follow (such as company policy and school policy). Policy also has several other meanings, including an insurance contract.Example: Management encourages carpooling, but they haven’t made it an official company policy yet.

Etymology

Origin of policy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English policie “art of government, government, civil administration,” from Middle French, from Latin polītīa polity

Origin of policy²

First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle French police “written proof, documentary evidence,” (from Italian polizza, from Medieval Latin apodissa, apodīxa “receipt, security,” ultimately from Greek apódeixis “a showing or setting forth”; apodictic, -sis ) + -y ³

Example Sentences

He said the administration has done little to promote raw dairy as part of a revamped food policy that emphasizes meat and whole-fat milk as essential for a healthy diet.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Northern Ireland has a different policy on when the A&E "clock" starts and stops, so cannot be included.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

“Insurers have pushed certain cancer-care centers out of network before the end of the calendar or policy year.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

“Policy is in a good place to react as needed to risks of higher inflation or a weaker labor market. I expect the current setting of the policy rate will remain appropriate for some time.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Bayona didn’t agree with his country’s TB policy, but he understood its reasoning.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• action
• administration
• approach
• arrangement
• behavior
• code
• guideline
• management
• method
• plan
• practice
• program
• protocol
• rule
• scheme
• strategy
• theory