self-insurance

American  

[self-in-shoor-uhns, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪnˈʃʊər əns, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. insurance of one's property or interests against possible loss by the establishing of a special fund for the purpose instead of seeking coverage with an underwriter.

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self-insurance British  

noun

1. the practice of insuring oneself or one's property by accumulating a reserve out of one's income or funds rather than by purchase of an insurance policy

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Etymology

Origin of self-insurance

First recorded in 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-insurance

Several builders have also disclosed in filings that providers of insurance for construction defects are retreating from the market, forcing them to pay higher rates and cover more of the claims themselves through self-insurance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

If you do have substantial savings, enough to start again, rent/buy a little place elsewhere as a bit of self-insurance.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 28, 2026

Ryther has served on the boards of both the SafeSport Center and USA Swimming, and also of swimming’s offshore self-insurance subsidiary, the United States Sports Insurance Company, which was created to ward off abuse lawsuits.

From Salon ● Mar. 16, 2025

For damages beyond these limits, all sequestration sites in the jurisdiction would pitch in via a form of pooled industry self-insurance, again up to a specified limit.

From Science Daily ● May 14, 2024

There was a better, surer way to utterly destroy her,—a way he had long ago prepared,—not expecting any such contingency as this, but merely as a matter of self-insurance.

From The Moonlit Way by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers

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