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 called: insurance 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 agent

      insurance broker

      insurance company

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

Other Word Forms

• noninsurance noun
• preinsurance noun
• proinsurance adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insurance¹

First recorded in 1545–55; insure + -ance

Example Sentences

Financial support for therapeutic services could be built into cyber insurance policies, though that would likely raise premiums.

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Meanwhile, all facets of car ownership—from repairs to loans to insurance—have become costlier.

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Is there any way I can reduce my insurance rate, or do I just need to suck it up and shell out the money?

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"There could be a complete halt in payment transactions and services to the population, cessation of card functionality, cessation of credit insurance, and everything else," he said.

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Lawmakers are racing to relieve a problem for the 24.3 million Americans who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, otherwise called Obamacare.

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Related Words

• allowance 
• coverage 
• guarantee