policy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
    • it was a policy of retribution
    • a politician keeps changing his policies
  2. noun a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government
    • they debated the policy or impolicy of the proposed legislation
  3. noun written contract or certificate of insurance
    insurance policy; insurance.
    • you should have read the small print on your policy

WordNet

Pol"i*cy noun
Etymology
L. politia, Gr. cf. F. police, Of. police. See Police, n.
Wordforms
plural Policies
Definitions
  1. Civil polity. Obs.
  2. The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external or internal prosperity of a state.
  3. The method by which any institution is administered; system of management; course.
  4. Management or administration based on temporal or material interest, rather than on principles of equity or honor; hence, worldly wisdom; dexterity of management; cunning; stratagem.
  5. Prudence or wisdom in the management of public and private affairs; wisdom; sagacity; wit.
    The very policy of a hostess, finding his purse so far above his clothes, did detect him. Fuller.
  6. Motive; object; inducement. Obs.
    What policy have you to bestow a benefit where it is counted an injury? Sir P. Sidney.
    Syn. -- See Polity.
Pol"i*cy transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Policied ; present participle & verbal noun Policying
Definitions
  1. To regulate by laws; to reduce to order. Obs. "Policying of cities." Bacon.
Pol"i*cy noun
Etymology
F. police; cf. Pr. polissia, Sp. pólizia, It. pólizza; of uncertain origin; cf. L. pollex thumb (as being used in pressing the seal), in LL. also, seal; or cf. LL. politicum, poleticum, polecticum, L. polyptychum, account book, register, fr. Gr. having many folds or leaves; many + fold, leaf, from to fold; or cf. LL. apodixa a receipt.
Definitions
  1. A ticket or warrant for money in the public funds.
  2. The writing or instrument in which a contract of insurance is embodied; an instrument in writing containing the terms and conditions on which one party engages to indemnify another against loss arising from certain hazards, perils, or risks to which his person or property may be exposed. See Insurance.
  3. A method of gambling by betting as to what numbers will be drawn in a lottery; as, to play policy.

Webster 1913