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Policy

 - 8 dictionary results

pol⋅i⋅cy

1  [pol-uh-see]
Use Policy in a Sentence
–noun, plural -cies.
1. a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc.: We have a new company policy.
2. a course of action adopted and pursued by a government, ruler, political party, etc.: our nation's foreign policy.
3. action or procedure conforming to or considered with reference to prudence or expediency: It was good policy to consent.
4. sagacity; shrewdness: Showing great policy, he pitted his enemies against one another.
5. Rare. government; polity.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME policie government, civil administration < MF < L polītīa polity

Synonyms:
1. strategy, principle, rule. 4. acumen, astuteness, skill, art.

Antonyms:
4. ingenuousness, naiveté.

pol⋅i⋅cy

2  [pol-uh-see]
–noun, plural -cies.
1. a document embodying a contract of insurance.
2. a method of gambling in which bets are made on numbers to be drawn by lottery.
3. numbers pool (def. 2).
Origin:
1555–65; < MF police (< It polizza < ML apodīxa receipt ≪ Gk apódeixis a showing or setting forth; see apodictic, -sis ) + -y 3
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pol·i·cy 1   (pŏl'ĭ-sē)   
n.   pl. pol·i·cies

  1. A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters: American foreign policy; the company's personnel policy.

    1. A course of action, guiding principle, or procedure considered expedient, prudent, or advantageous: Honesty is the best policy.

    2. Prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity in practical matters.


[Middle English policie, art of government, civil organization, from Old French; see police.]
pol·i·cy 2   (pŏl'ĭ-sē)   
n.   pl. pol·i·cies

  1. A written contract or certificate of insurance.

  2. A numbers game.


[Obsolete police, from French, contract, bill of lading, from Old French, from Old Italian polizza, alteration of Medieval Latin apodixa, receipt, from Medieval Greek apodeixis, from Greek, proof, from apodeiknunai, to prove : apo-, intensive pref.; see apo- + deiknunai, to show; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

policy  (1)
"way of management, government, administration," c.1386, from O.Fr. policie (14c.) "civil administration," from L. politia "the state," from Gk. politeia "state, administration, government, citizenship," from polites "citizen," from polis "city, state," from PIE *p(o)lH- "enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Skt. pur, puram "city, citadel," Lith. pilis "fortress"). Meaning "plan of action, way of management" first recorded c.1406.

policy  (2)
"written insurance agreement," 1565, from M.Fr. police "contract, bill of lading" (1371), from It. polizza "written evidence of a transaction," from M.L. apodissa "receipt for money," from Gk. apodexis "proof, declaration," from apo- "off" + deiknynia "to show," cognate with L. dicere "to tell" (see diction).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pol·i·cy
Pronunciation: 'pä-l&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -cies
: an overall plan, principle, or guideline; especially : one formulated outside of the judiciary policy on the matter in their decision>

Main Entry: policy
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -cies
: a contract of insurance; also : the written instrument of such a contract
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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