insurance

American  

[in-shoor-uhns, -shur-] / ɪnˈʃʊər əns, -ˈʃɜr- /

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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of insurance

First recorded in 1545–55; insure + -ance

Example Sentences

Veloso attached cameras to a real plane to film the scope of the landscape, but Edgerton wasn’t allowed to go up because of insurance concerns.

From Los Angeles Times

Theo joined WSJ's Texas Journal edition in Dallas in 2000 and went on to cover mutual funds, pensions, insurance, hospitals and the healthcare industry for the Journal from New York and Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is widest in the finance and insurance industry, at 27.2%.

From BBC

New York has seen more than 50 theaters, music clubs, museums and galleries close since 2020, the report said, citing the rising cost of rent, salaries and insurance.

From Barron's

Additional expenses including insurance, property taxes and upkeep brought his monthly total outlay to $3,546.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• allowance
• coverage
• guarantee