insurance
nounUS /ɪnˈʃʊɹ.əns/ · /ɪnˈʃɔː.ɹəns/
Etymology From the older form ensurance, see also assurance. By surface analysis, insure + -ance.
1
Usually A means of indemnity against a future occurrence of an uncertain event.
- The car was totalled, but fortunately I had insurance.
- 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.2012 January 23, Philip E. Mirowski, “Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 04 Apr 2012, page 87:
2
Usually The business of providing insurance.
- After five years in banking, I switched to insurance.
3
Figuratively, Usually Any attempt to forestall an unfavorable event.
- The sky was clear, but I took my umbrella for insurance.
4
Blackjack, Games Usually A bet made after the deal, which pays off if the dealer has blackjack.
- I only take insurance if the count is right.
5
Usually An insurance policy.
- "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.2009 February 18, Cheryl Critchley, “Free child care for Victorian bushfire victims”, in Herald Sun, archived from the original on 18 Feb 2009:
6
Usually A company providing insurance policies; an insurer.
- 'They don't say so yet, but the suggestion is incendiarism. […]' 'Why should they think anything wrong?' 'These insurances go a lot by the fire brigade report. I suppose the officer in charge has suggested something.'1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
- Derived terms
81 terms
accident insurance, auto insurance, automobile insurance, black box insurance, bond insurance, car insurance, casualty insurance, coinsurance, comprehensive insurance, contents insurance, credit insurance, credit life insurance, dental insurance, deposit insurance, divorce insurance, earthquake insurance, fidelity insurance, fire insurance, flood insurance, freight insurance, gap insurance, general insurance, group insurance, health insurance, home insurance, homeowner's insurance, insurance adjuster, insurance agency, insurance agent, insurance broker, insurance carrier, insurance claim, insurance company, insurance contract, insurance fire, insurance fraud, insurance goal, insurancelike, insurance plan, insurance policy, insurance poor, insurance premium, insurancer, insurance scam, insurance shot, insure, insurer, insurtech, interinsurance, keyman insurance, key man insurance, key person insurance, liability insurance, life insurance, malpractice insurance, microinsurance, motor insurance, mutual insurance, national insurance, no-fault insurance, noninsurance, overinsurance, pet insurance, property insurance, reinsurance, schmuck insurance, self-insurance, social insurance, social insurance number, strike insurance, superhero insurance, term life insurance, time element insurance, title insurance, transportation insurance, travel insurance, umbrella insurance, underinsurance, unemployment insurance, uninsurance, whole-life insurance- Related terms
- actuary, annuity, broker, float, underwriter, workers’ compensation