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Definition of policy - 11 dictionary results

pol⋅i⋅cy

1[pol-uh-see]
–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


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


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
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.]

Policy

Pol"i*cy\, n.; pl. Policies. [L. politia, Gr. ?; cf. F. police, Of. police. See Police, n.]

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.

Policy

Pol"i*cy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Policied; p. pr. & vb. n. Policying.] To regulate by laws; to reduce to order. [Obs.] "Policying of cities." --Bacon.

Policy

Pol"i*cy\, n. [F. police; cf. Pr. polissia, Sp. p['o]lizia, It. p['o]lizza; 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.]

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.

Interest policy, a policy that shows by its form that the assured has a real, substantial interest in the matter insured.

Open policy, one in which the value of the goods or property insured is not mentioned.

Policy book, a book to contain a record of insurance policies.

Policy holder, one to whom an insurance policy has been granted.

Policy shop, a gambling place where one may bet on the numbers which will be drawn in lotteries.

Valued policy, one in which the value of the goods, property, or interest insured is specified.

Wager policy, a policy that shows on the face of it that the contract it embodies is a pretended insurance, founded on an ideal risk, where the insured has no interest in anything insured.
Language Translation for : policy
Spanish: política,
German: die Politik,
Japanese: 方針

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).

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
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