insurance
/ɪnˈʃʊɹ.əns/ noun
Forms insurances insuraunce
- noun A means of indemnity against a future occurrence of an uncertain event. “The car was totalled, but fortunately I had insurance.”
- noun The business of providing insurance. “After five years in banking, I switched to insurance.”
- noun (figurative) Any attempt to forestall an unfavorable event. “The sky was clear, but I took my umbrella for insurance.”
- noun (blackjack) A bet made after the deal, which pays off if the dealer has blackjack. “I only take insurance if the count is right.”
- noun (countable) An insurance policy.
- noun (countable) A company providing insurance policies; an insurer.
Synonyms
Etymology
From the older form ensurance, see also assurance.
By surface analysis, insure + -ance.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of insuring, or assuring, against loss or damage by a contingent event; a contract whereby, for a stipulated consideration, called premium, one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by certain specified risks. Cf. Assurance, n., 6.
- noun The premium paid for insuring property or life.
Etymology [From Insure.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “insurance”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details