life insurance

American

noun

insurance providing for payment of a sum of money to a named beneficiary upon the death of the policyholder or to the policyholder if still living after reaching a specified age.

life insurance British

noun

another name for life assurance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of life insurance

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While it’s often the most affordable type of life insurance relative to the payout, premiums can increase significantly for smokers or those with health conditions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

My brothers and I are willing to split the cost of life insurance for her, if we can find a policy that would insure her.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Any type of life insurance is, for the most part, a long-term commitment.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Generali has been gradually rebalancing its portfolio to expand its property-and-casualty franchise and fee-based asset management activities, while reshaping its life insurance segment toward capital-light products such as unit-linked, protection and health.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

I have no idea what life insurance is, but apparently old people need it, because that's who's always on those commercials.

From "Sunny" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023