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

Another troubling factor for actuaries is the late posting of a key regulation that sets the next year's rules for ACA health plans. — Julie Appleby, CBS News, 19 May 2026

Union leaders contend the raises are not any larger than the actuary for the city’s pension system has predicted for the affected fiscal years, arguably giving the raises a neutral impact on the city’s $3 billion pension debt. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2026

Third, Social Security’s actuaries make many assumptions over a 75-year period when assessing the solvency of the program. — Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026

Social Security actuaries calculate that eliminating the wage cap (without those taxes accruing additional benefits) would keep the system out of deficit for just three years and close only about half of its long-term shortfall. — Jessica Riedl, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

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

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee
• assignee

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