actuary

noun

ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē 

-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

Many employers are offering more choices of plans, some of which may have lower costs for enrollees, said Sunit Patel, Mercer’s US chief actuary for health and benefits. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025

The Social Security actuary projects the 2025 budget law Congress passed in July will accelerate insolvency of the program’s retirement trust fund from early 2033 to late 2032. —Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Most of us just want to remain in decent health and last a bit longer than the actuaries predict. —Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

The insurance actuaries say extreme weather and rising repair costs due to inflation are reasons for the rate hikes. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for actuary

• antiquary
• bolsheviki
• calliope
• chelicerae
• covenantee
• cruciferae
• diastole
• distributee
• hyperbole
• interviewee
• origami
• phonology

Kids Definition

actuary

noun

ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē 

-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- 

plural actuaries

: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends