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
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The discussion included the Democrats’ demands to ensure subsidies to help people buy private insurance on the exchanges run by the Affordable Care Act are made permanent.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Yun Li, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for insurance
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.
Noun
Democrats want to overturn spending cuts Republicans approved earlier in the year for Medicaid, which provides health insurance for Americans living in or near poverty, and extend insurance subsidies created by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The discussion included the Democrats’ demands to ensure subsidies to help people buy private insurance on the exchanges run by the Affordable Care Act are made permanent.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Since 2018, Abel has served as Berkshire's vice chairman for non-insurance operations, overseeing railroad, utilities, energy, manufacturing and retail businesses.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for insurance
Cite this Entry
“Insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurance. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share