in·sur·ance
in-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s 
-ˈshər-,
also
ˈin-ˌshu̇r-
-ˌshər-
1
2
: a means of guaranteeing protection or safety
The contract is your insurance against price changes.
Frequent hand washing is good insurance against the common cold.
3
gambling
: a side bet that a player in blackjack may place when the dealer's first faceup card is an ace
Note: An insurance bet can be up to half of a player's original bet. It wins at 2 to 1 odds if the dealer's cards add up to 21.
: being a score that adds to a team's lead and makes it impossible for the opposing team to tie the game with its next score
an insurance run
Examples of insurance in a Sentence
Noun
insurance against theft or damage
She has a job in insurance.
I work for an insurance company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
But a bunch of factors, like inadequate insurance coverage or the inability to take time off work to see a doc, can get in the way, Dr. Porter says.
—Tatiana Walk-Morris, SELF, 22 Apr. 2024
During a time of great hardship, Giancarlo Esposito once considered organizing his death in order to collect insurance money for his children.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Every month, our portion of the pie shrinks due to the rising cost of food, gas, insurance and home maintenance — unlike PG&E’s CEO and her executive minions who can live like royalty after receiving huge compensation increases in 2023.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
California’s homeowners insurance crisis has been building for years as climate change and extreme weather have contributed to catastrophic fires that destroyed thousands of homes.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Nationwide, 12 million people lost dental insurance.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Eli Lilly sells the drug to people without insurance for $550 a month.
—Gina Kolata, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Generally, most shippers also get a separate insurance product to cover business interruption, which could be add to the losses, given the busy Port of Baltimore.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
The Economist, 8 May 2021
Buffett said last May that Berkshire Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who currently oversees all of the conglomerate’s non-insurance businesses, is set to take over as CEO.
—Dallas News, 24 Feb. 2022
Greg Abel, who oversees all of Berkshire's non-insurance operations, bought roughly 168 Berkshire Class A shares worth about $68 million last week, SEC filings released late Monday show.
—Akane Otani, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2022
But the company has already announced that Greg Abel, the 60-year old vice chairman of all of Berkshire's energy and other non-insurance units, will eventually take over for Buffett.
—Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 8 Aug. 2022
Buffett announced last year that vice chairman Greg Abel, who oversees Berkshire's energy, consumer and other non-insurance businesses, will eventually take over as Berkshire CEO.
—Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 30 Apr. 2022
Currently, Abel is responsible for Berkshire’s two largest operating companies, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and BNSF Railroad, as well as an assortment of relatively smaller and successful non-insurance companies.
—Laura Rittenhouse, Forbes, 5 May 2021
Further, the gradual improvement in the economic conditions will likely boost both the total premiums and the non-insurance revenues.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021
Buffett will be joined by Greg Abel, the company's vice chairman of non-insurance operations.
—Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 9 Aug. 2021
Noun
The captain of industry saving Ecuador’s cloud forest Courtesy Roque Sevilla
When Roque Sevilla, the former mayor of Quito, told me about his entrepreneurial journey from setting up an insurance company to saving Ecuador’s forests, I was blown away.
—Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
But a bunch of factors, like inadequate insurance coverage or the inability to take time off work to see a doc, can get in the way, Dr. Porter says.
—Tatiana Walk-Morris, SELF, 22 Apr. 2024
During a time of great hardship, Giancarlo Esposito once considered organizing his death in order to collect insurance money for his children.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Every month, our portion of the pie shrinks due to the rising cost of food, gas, insurance and home maintenance — unlike PG&E’s CEO and her executive minions who can live like royalty after receiving huge compensation increases in 2023.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
California’s homeowners insurance crisis has been building for years as climate change and extreme weather have contributed to catastrophic fires that destroyed thousands of homes.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Nationwide, 12 million people lost dental insurance.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Eli Lilly sells the drug to people without insurance for $550 a month.
—Gina Kolata, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Generally, most shippers also get a separate insurance product to cover business interruption, which could be add to the losses, given the busy Port of Baltimore.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Adjective
That forced Mr Buffett to confirm that his heir apparent as chief executive is Greg Abel, 58, a trusted lieutenant who runs Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses.
—The Economist, 8 May 2021
Buffett said last May that Berkshire Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who currently oversees all of the conglomerate’s non-insurance businesses, is set to take over as CEO.
—Dallas News, 24 Feb. 2022
Greg Abel, who oversees all of Berkshire's non-insurance operations, bought roughly 168 Berkshire Class A shares worth about $68 million last week, SEC filings released late Monday show.
—Akane Otani, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2022
But the company has already announced that Greg Abel, the 60-year old vice chairman of all of Berkshire's energy and other non-insurance units, will eventually take over for Buffett.
—Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 8 Aug. 2022
Buffett announced last year that vice chairman Greg Abel, who oversees Berkshire's energy, consumer and other non-insurance businesses, will eventually take over as Berkshire CEO.
—Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 30 Apr. 2022
Currently, Abel is responsible for Berkshire’s two largest operating companies, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and BNSF Railroad, as well as an assortment of relatively smaller and successful non-insurance companies.
—Laura Rittenhouse, Forbes, 5 May 2021
Further, the gradual improvement in the economic conditions will likely boost both the total premiums and the non-insurance revenues.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021
Buffett will be joined by Greg Abel, the company's vice chairman of non-insurance operations.
—Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 9 Aug. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insurance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near insurance
Cite this Entry
“Insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurance. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
insurance
noun
in·sur·ance
in-ˈshu̇r-əns, ˈin-ˌshu̇r-
1
: the action, process, or means of insuring or the state of being insured usually against loss or damage by a contingent event (as death, fire, accident, or sickness)
2
a
: the business of insuring persons or property
b
: coverage by contract whereby for an agreed payment one party agrees to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril
c
: the principles and practice of the business of insuring
3
: the sum for which something is insured
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