actuary

noun

ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē 

-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

Set in an office environment, the show centers on the passionate actuary Ki-jun and his team’s journey to develop this innovative product. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025

Specifically, the senior casualty actuary performs a wide variety of consultative and analytical assignments associated with aspects of property and casualty insurance rate regulation. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2025

The actuary did so, but about everybody could see that the premium to be charged by the captive for policies were too high and some coverages were not needed by STW or SaniSure. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Last year, Chicago’s official pension actuary issued a similar warning. —Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for actuary

• antiquary
• bolsheviki
• calliope
• chelicerae
• covenantee
• cruciferae
• diastole
• distributee
• hyperbole
• interviewee
• origami
• phonology

Kids Definition

actuary

noun

ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē 

-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- 

plural actuaries

: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends