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
Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
About 2,400 households — nearly all in underserved communities where flood insurance coverage is low — were affected by the disaster, and about half of those were displaced, according to data collected by the county and verified by federal officials.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Daybell is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, grand theft, and insurance fraud.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
In the letter to Lara, Hardin said State Farm would continue to cooperate with the state in finding a resolution to the home insurance crisis.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
His father was an executive with an insurance company, a wholesale grocery and a corn-shucking business.
—Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Federal and state regulators aren't doing enough to stop the growing problem of rogue health insurance brokers making unauthorized policy switches for Affordable Care Act policyholders, say consumers, agents, nonprofit enrollee assistance groups, and other insurance experts.
—Julie Appleby, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
That $790,000 expense is around a 55% increase from the 2023 insurance premium of $511,169.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
Cutter, according to court documents, posted both of the bonds through Allegheny Casualty Company, a bond insurance company.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
Generally, most shippers also get a separate insurance product to cover business interruption, which could be add to the losses, given the busy Port of Baltimore.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
About 2,400 households — nearly all in underserved communities where flood insurance coverage is low — were affected by the disaster, and about half of those were displaced, according to data collected by the county and verified by federal officials.
—Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Daybell is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, grand theft, and insurance fraud.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024
In the letter to Lara, Hardin said State Farm would continue to cooperate with the state in finding a resolution to the home insurance crisis.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
His father was an executive with an insurance company, a wholesale grocery and a corn-shucking business.
—Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Federal and state regulators aren't doing enough to stop the growing problem of rogue health insurance brokers making unauthorized policy switches for Affordable Care Act policyholders, say consumers, agents, nonprofit enrollee assistance groups, and other insurance experts.
—Julie Appleby, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
That $790,000 expense is around a 55% increase from the 2023 insurance premium of $511,169.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
Cutter, according to court documents, posted both of the bonds through Allegheny Casualty Company, a bond insurance company.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
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
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
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Cite this Entry
“Insurance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurance. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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
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
More from Merriam-Webster on insurance
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for insurance
Nglish: Translation of insurance for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of insurance for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insurance
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