actuary

noun

ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce actuary (audio)
-shə-,
-ˌwe-rē-
plural actuaries
1
obsolete : clerk, registrar
2
: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends

Examples of actuary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shkolnikov works with actuaries to design plans that allow business owners to make large, tax-deductible contributions—sometimes even using pension money to purchase real estate or other investments. Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Last week, the agency announced Chad Poist as chief of staff and chief risk officer, Karen Glenn as chief actuary, Nicholas Perrine as chief communications officer, Jay Ortis as acting chief of disability adjudication and Andy Sriubas as chief of field operations. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 Many employers are offering more choices of plans, some of which may have lower costs for enrollees, said Sunit Patel, Mercer’s US chief actuary for health and benefits. Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 Most of us just want to remain in decent health and last a bit longer than the actuaries predict. Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for actuary

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin āctuārius "shorthand writer, keeper of accounts," alteration (with -u- from the u-stem action noun āctus) of *āctārius, from āctum "public transaction, record" + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at act entry 1

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of actuary was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actuary. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

actuary

noun
ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce actuary (audio)
-shə-
plural actuaries
: a person who calculates insurance premiums and dividends
actuarial
ˌak-chə-ˈwer-ē-əl
adjective

Legal Definition

actuary

noun
ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē, -shə- How to pronounce actuary (audio)
plural actuaries
: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends

More from Merriam-Webster on actuary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!