insurance

Noun

insurance (usually uncountable, plural insurances)

1. (usually) A means of indemnity against a future occurrence of an uncertain event.
   • The car was totalled, but fortunately I had insurance.
   • In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance.2012 January, Philip E. Mirowski, “Harms to Health from the Pursuit of Profits”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 04 Apr 2012, page 87
2. (usually) The business of providing insurance.
   • After five years in banking, I switched to insurance.
3. (figuratively, usually) Any attempt to forestall an unfavorable event.
   • The sky was clear, but I took my umbrella for insurance.
4. (usually) A bet made after the deal, which pays off if the dealer has blackjack.
   • I only take insurance if the count is right.
5. (countable, usually) An insurance policy.
   • "The children need to get back to some level of normalcy and their families can certainly use some respite to deal with things such as insurances, licences and other things they have lost," he said.2009 February 18, Cheryl Critchley, “Free child care for Victorian bushfire victims”, in Herald Sun, archived from the original on 18 Feb 2009
6. (countable, usually) A company providing insurance policies; an insurer.
   • 'They don't say so yet, but the suggestion is incendiarism. […]'
     'Why should they think anything wrong?'
     'These insurances go a lot by the fire brigade report. I suppose the officer in charge has suggested something.'1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries