insurance
ihn-SHAW-ruhns
Insurance (noun) means an arrangement where you pay a company regularly so it covers you financially if something bad happens. Example: “Our travel insurance paid for a new phone after the old one was stolen.”
noun
1
An arrangement where you pay a company regularly so it covers you financially if something bad happens.
"Our travel insurance paid for a new phone after the old one was stolen."
"They took out car insurance before their first road trip."
"Health insurance covered most of the hospital bill."
2
Any action taken in advance to protect against a possible future problem.
"Saving a little each month is good insurance against unexpected repair bills."
"I printed a second copy of the ticket as insurance."
"He kept a spare key as insurance against getting locked out."
How to use insurance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA financial safety net you pay into in case something goes wrong, or more loosely, any precaution.
Common pairings
health insurance
car insurance
insurance policy
take out insurance
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Word forms
- Plural
- insurances
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Our travel _____ paid for a new phone after the old one was stolen.
Etymology
From the older form "ensurance," related to "assurance" — ultimately from insure + -ance.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for insurance
See all rhymes for insurance →Frequently asked questions
What does “insurance” mean?
The word “insurance” means an arrangement where you pay a company regularly so it covers you financially if something bad happens. In plain terms, a financial safety net you pay into in case something goes wrong, or more loosely, any precaution.
How do you pronounce “insurance”?
“Insurance” is pronounced ihn-SHAW-ruhns (/ɪnˈʃʊɹ.əns/ in IPA).
How do you use “insurance” in a sentence?
Here is “insurance” used in a sentence: “They took out car insurance before their first road trip.”
What part of speech is “insurance”?
“Insurance” is a noun.
Is “insurance” a common word?
“Insurance” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “insurance” have?
“Insurance” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an arrangement where you pay a company regularly so it covers you financially if something bad happens.
What are the main types of insurance?
Insurance covers many risks. Common types include health, life, car, home, and travel insurance, along with business cover. Each protects against a particular kind of loss — illness, death, accidents, damage, or theft — in exchange for regular payments known as premiums.
What is the difference between insurance and assurance?
In everyday use they overlap, but traditionally 'insurance' covers events that might happen, like a fire or accident, while 'assurance' covers something certain to happen eventually, such as death — hence 'life assurance'. The distinction is mainly British, and many people now use 'insurance' for both.
How does insurance work?
You pay a company a regular amount, called a premium. In return, it promises to pay out if a covered event happens — an accident, illness, or damage. Because many customers pay in but only some claim, the pooled money covers those who suffer a loss, spreading the risk across everyone.
What is an insurance premium?
A premium is the amount you pay for insurance, usually monthly or yearly — the price of being covered. The insurer sets it based on how likely you are to claim and how much a claim might cost, so riskier situations generally mean higher premiums.
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