insurance

1 of 2

noun

in·​sur·​ance in-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s 

-ˈshər-

also

ˈin-ˌshu̇r- 

-ˌshər-

1

a

: coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril

b

: the business of insuring persons or property

c

: the sum for which something is insured

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.

insurance

2 of 2

adjective

: 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

Noun

Housing concerns are fueled by factors including expenses relative to income and ballooning mortgage costs driven by rising insurance and property taxes. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 19 July 2026

That is in addition to electric, natural gas, water, homeowner insurance and other expenses, O’Mara said. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Adjective

He is accused of writing anti-insurance industry messages on casings recovered from the crime scene. — Michael Ruiz , Tessa Hoyos, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026

The data doesn’t provide a complete picture of what the CEO and some other executives actually receive from USAA, though, because the reports don’t include compensation from the non-insurance parts of its business. — Lily O'Neill, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1934, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing insurance

• accident insurance
• health insurance
• homeowner's insurance
• insurance adjuster
• insurance agent
• insurance broker
• insurance policy
• life insurance
• property damage insurance
• self-insurance
• social insurance
• take out insurance on
• term insurance
• title insurance
• unemployment insurance
• whole life insurance
• workmen's compensation insurance

Rhymes for insurance

• assurance
• durance
• reassurance
• reinsurance

Kids Definition

insurance

noun

in·​sur·​ance

in-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s

1

a

: the business of insuring persons or property

b

: a contract by which someone guarantees for a fee to pay someone else for the value of property if it is lost or damaged (as through theft or fire) or to pay usually a specified amount for injury or death

c

: the amount for which something is insured

2

: a means of guaranteeing protection

take an umbrella as insurance against rain

Legal 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