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 While insurance company actuaries will try to learn how to understand the risks of these vehicles, the truth is the people building them will always understand that more. Brad Templeton, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 The system's actuary, Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Co., said the trustees could slightly reduce the rate charged to state and local governments in the system to 15.26% of employee payroll in what the actuary described as a preliminary employer contribution rate. Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2023 The debt is based on how much the actuary for the city’s pension system, Gene Kalwarski, thinks the gap is between what the city will need to pay out in benefits long term and the value of the pension system’s investments. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023 Nearly a third of them will suffer brain damage, according to the NFL’s own actuaries. Steve Almond, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023 Spencer Platt - Getty Images The old joke is that actuaries make accountants look interesting. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2023 The proposal is a premature idea that would come with huge interest costs and benefits that aren’t compelling enough, the actuary for the city’s pension system said Friday. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2023 Andrew Davis, an actuary at global financial services firm Deloitte, makes a comfortable living. Byerin Prater, Fortune Well, 1 Aug. 2023 According to federal governmental actuaries, healthcare expenditures will rise from $4.2 trillion today to $7.2 trillion by 2031. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 17 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'actuary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near actuary

Cite this Entry

“Actuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actuary. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

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

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