pollicy

Noun

policy (countable and uncountable, plural policies)

1. A principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body.
   • The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers.
2. A document describing such a policy.
   • Please print extra copies of this policy and post them where it will be easy for everyone to see.
3. Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
   • [H]e [Richard I of England] was diſcovered in an inne in Auſtria, becauſe he diſguiſed his perſon not his expenſes; ſo that the very policie of an hoſteſſe, finding his purſe ſo farre above his clothes, did detect him: […]1639, Thomas Fuller, “King Richard Taken Prisoner in Austria; Sold and Sent to the Emperour; Dearly Ransomed, Returneth Home”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas...
4. (archaic) Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.
   • I, 'policie? that's their profession,
     And not simplicity, as they suggest.c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published...
5. (Scotland, in plural) The grounds of a large country house.
   • Now and then about a gentleman’s house stands a small plantation, which in Scotch is called a policy, but of these there are few, and those few all very young.1775, Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland section on Aberbrothick
6. (obsolete) The art of governance; political science.
   • Liſt his diſcourse of Warre; and you ſhall heare / A fearefull Battaile rendred you in Muſique. / Turne him to any Cauſe of Pollicy, / The Gordian Knot of it he will vnlooſe, / Familiar as his Garter: […]1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

See all 15 meanings of policy