insurance

English

Etymology

From old form ensurance, see also assurance.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ɨn.ˈʃəɹ.ɨns/, (US, dialectal) IPA(key): /ˈɪn.ʃə.ɹɨns/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

insurance (usually uncountable, plural insurances)

  1. A means of indemnity against a future occurrence of an uncertain event.
    • 2012 January 1, Philip E. Mirowski, “Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 1, page 87:
      In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance.
    The car was totalled, but fortunately I had insurance.
  2. The business of providing insurance.
    After five years in banking, I switched to insurance.
  3. Metaphoric: Any attempt to anticipate an unfavorable event.
    The sky was clear, but I took my umbrella for insurance.
  4. Blackjack: A bet made after the deal, which pays off if the dealer has blackjack.
    I only take insurance if the count is right.
  5. (countable) An insurance policy
    • 2009 February 18, Cheryl Critchley, “Free child care for Victorian bushfire victims”, in Herald Sun‎:
      "The children need to get back to some level of normalcy and their families can certainly use some respite to deal with things such as insurances, licences and other things they have lost," he said.

Derived terms

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