policy

UK: /ˈpɒlɪsi/ US: /ˈpɑləsi/ ,(pol′ə sē)

Inflections of 'policy' (n): npl: policies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pol•i•cy¹ /ˈpɑləsi/   n., pl. -cies. 

1. a definite course of action followed by a business, government, etc:
   [countable] a new company policy.
   [uncountable] U.S. trade policy needs new direction.

See -polis-.
pol•i•cy² /ˈpɑləsi/   n. [countable] , pl. -cies. 

1. a document that has all the terms of a contract or agreement for insurance:
   an insurance policy on your home.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pol•i•cy¹  (pol′ə sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc.:
   We have a new company policy.
2. Government 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. Government [Rare.] government;
   polity.

• Latin polītīa polity
• Middle French
• Middle English policie government, civil administration 1350–1400

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

• 4. ingenuousness, naiveté.

pol•i•cy²  (pol′ə sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. a document embodying a contract of insurance.
2. Games a method of gambling in which bets are made on numbers to be drawn by lottery.
3. Games See numbers pool (def. 2).

• Medieval Latin apodīxa receipt Greek apódeixis a showing or setting forth; see apodictic, -sis) + -y³
• Italian polizza
• Middle French police (
• 1555–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

policy / ˈpɒlɪsɪ/ noun ( -cies)

1. a plan of action adopted or pursued by an individual, government, party, business, etc
2. wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity
3. (often plural) the improved grounds surrounding a country house

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French policie, from Latin polītīa administration, polity

policy / ˈpɒlɪsɪ/ noun ( -cies)

1. a document containing a contract of insurance

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French police certificate, from Old Italian polizza, from Latin apodixis proof, from Greek apodeixis demonstration, proof