insurance
/ɪnˈʃʊə.rəns/- 1.
A system where you pay a company regularly so it helps cover loss, damage, illness, or death. The company gives money if a covered event happens.
- I pay insurance every month for my car.
- Her health insurance covered the hospital bill.
- 2.
Protection against loss or harm. People often use this meaning in phrases like "for insurance" or "as insurance."
- Take an umbrella as insurance against rain.
- We kept extra cash for insurance.
Adinary Nuance
Insurance is the general word for financial protection. It is not the same as a guarantee, which promises something will happen. It is also different from assurance, which means confidence or a promise, not the policy itself. In everyday English, people often say health insurance, car insurance, or life insurance.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bảo hiểm
- Spanish
- seguro
- Chinese
- 保险
- Japanese
- 保険
- Korean
- 보험
Etymology
Insurance comes from Old French assegurance, from assurer, meaning 'to make safe.' It entered English in the late Middle Ages and later became the name for financial protection systems.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between insurance and assurance?
- Insurance is financial protection against loss. Assurance usually means confidence or a promise, not the policy itself.
- Is insurance a countable noun?
- Usually, no. We say "insurance" in general, but "an insurance policy" for one contract.
- Is insurance used in business writing?
- Yes. It is very common in business, legal, and everyday writing.