reinsurance

noun

re·​in·​sur·​ance ˌrē-ən-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s 

ˌrē-ən-ˈshər-,

 also  (ˌ)rē-ˈin-ˌshu̇r-,

(ˌ)rē-ˈin-ˌshə̇r-

: insurance by another insurer of all or a part of a risk previously assumed by an insurance company

Examples of reinsurance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Munich Re, the global reinsurance giant backing many American property insurers, depends on it, and Swiss Re, a second reinsurance powerhouse, also routinely cites NOAA in its reports. —Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2025

The company expects claims expenditure linked to the event to total 1.2 billion euros for property-casualty reinsurance and global specialty insurance. —Chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025

Bhullar cited an individual life reinsurance transaction with primary insurer Equitable Holdings as a key driver of earnings per share projections becoming more rational. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025

When reinsurance costs jumped, so did the cost of primary insurance. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reinsurance

• reassurance
• assurance
• insurance
• durance

Legal Definition

reinsurance

noun

re·​in·​sur·​ance ˌrē-ən-ˈshu̇r-əns, -ˈin-ˌshu̇r- 

: insurance or indemnification by a second insurer of all or part of a risk assumed by another insurer as contracted for by the first insurer see also cede compare direct insurance, retrocession sense 3