insurance
insurance Lexical Profile
insurance Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A practice or arrangement by which a company or government agency provides a guarantee of compensation for specified loss, damage, illness, or death in return for payment of a premium.
"Before buying the house, they needed to secure comprehensive property insurance."
A thing providing protection against a possible eventuality or unforeseen risk.
"He brought a heavy winter coat along on the hiking trip simply as insurance against the unpredictable mountain weather."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, a distinction is historically made where 'assurance' covers inevitable events (e.g., life assurance) and 'insurance' covers conditional risks (e.g., fire or auto insurance), though this distinction is largely ignored in American English.
• Rhymes for insurance
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Mid 17th century: formed from the verb 'insure' + the suffix '-ance'. It gradually replaced 'assurance' in contexts referring to financial protection against property loss or damage.