insurance

1 of 2

noun

in·​sur·​ance in-ˈshu̇r-ən(t)s How to pronounce insurance (audio)
-ˈshər-,
also
ˈin-ˌshu̇r- How to pronounce insurance (audio)
-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
Her two adult sons were supposed to receive the money from life insurance proceeds related to the fall, but instead, prosecutors said, Murdaugh enlisted another lawyer, Cory Fleming, to help in the sons’ claim. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023 Your score also influences your insurance rates, as well as your ability to get an apartment or even a job. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 National insurance, a tax paid by employers and workers that funds state pensions and some benefits, will be cut by 2 percentage points to 10 percent for employees, Mr. Hunt said. Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) bundled many flap reconstructions covered by insurance under one CPT code, which is used for administrative purposes like processing insurance claims. Paige Stables, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023 All of our Best Credit Union picks are National Credit Union Administration members, which protects account holders’ deposits, similar to how FDIC insurance works at banks. Martha C. White, wsj.com, 22 Nov. 2023 Currently, the Simple 2 test is not eligible for insurance coverage. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 22 Nov. 2023 At their former insurance business, part of the job meant helping older customers navigate license services online. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023 Some crowded brokerage firms, hoping to finish up the necessary application and insurance paperwork before the court’s deadline. Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2023
Adjective
That forced Mr Buffett to confirm that his heir apparent as chief executive is Greg Abel, 58, a trusted lieutenant who runs Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses. The Economist, 8 May 2021 Buffett said last May that Berkshire Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who currently oversees all of the conglomerate’s non-insurance businesses, is set to take over as CEO. Dallas News, 24 Feb. 2022 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 But the company has already announced that Greg Abel, the 60-year old vice chairman of all of Berkshire's energy and other non-insurance units, will eventually take over for Buffett. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 8 Aug. 2022 Buffett announced last year that vice chairman Greg Abel, who oversees Berkshire's energy, consumer and other non-insurance businesses, will eventually take over as Berkshire CEO. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 30 Apr. 2022 Currently, Abel is responsible for Berkshire’s two largest operating companies, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and BNSF Railroad, as well as an assortment of relatively smaller and successful non-insurance companies. Laura Rittenhouse, Forbes, 5 May 2021 Further, the gradual improvement in the economic conditions will likely boost both the total premiums and the non-insurance revenues. Trefis Team, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021 Buffett will be joined by Greg Abel, the company's vice chairman of non-insurance operations. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 9 Aug. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insurance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of insurance was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near insurance

Cite this Entry

“Insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurance. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

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
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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