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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• noninsurance noun
• preinsurance noun
• proinsurance adjective

Etymology

Origin of insurance

First recorded in 1545–55; insure + -ance

Example Sentences

Their next-door neighbors are three Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity brothers developing AI that helps insurance companies sell more policies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

In general, people need 35 years of qualifying national insurance contributions to get a full state pension.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The added coverage External link includes new protection specifically related to wartime conditions in the form of war hull risk insurance, protection and indemnity, and cargo insurance.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Hospitals, healthcare products, health insurance and pharmaceuticals are “all areas expected to grow because more and more people need healthcare as our country ages,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

It charged a lot less for insurance on a putatively safe double-A-rated slice of a CDO than it did for insurance on the openly risky triple-B-rated bonds.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• allowance
• coverage
• guarantee