insurance
- 01 B1 Intermediate
an agreement where you pay a company money and they pay your costs if something bad happens, like a car crash or a fire.
a contract or system providing financial protection or reimbursement against specified types of loss or damage.
Simple“You need to have valid car insurance before you are allowed to drive on the road.”
In context“The homeowner discovered that his standard insurance did not cover damage caused by rising floodwaters, leaving him with significant repair costs.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun, but can be countable when referring to specific types (e.g., 'different insurances').
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the business of providing financial protection to people and companies.
the commercial sector or industry involved in the provision of insurance policies.
Simple“After finishing university, she found a well-paying job in insurance.”
In context“The insurance industry has faced unprecedented challenges due to the increasing frequency of climate-related natural disasters.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
something you do to protect yourself against a possible problem in the future.
a precautionary measure taken to guard against a potential negative outcome.
Simple“I took a spare battery with me as insurance in case my phone died.”
In context“The team signed a veteran goalkeeper as insurance against their primary starter suffering another mid-season injury.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the actual document or contract that shows you are protected.
a specific insurance policy or contract document.
Simple“Please keep your insurance in a safe place where you can find it easily.”
In context“The legal department requested a copy of the insurance to verify the liability limits before signing the partnership agreement.”
Usage insurance companies · insurance costs · insurance coverage
“Non-hormonal treatments, however, tend to be more expensive, says Huang, and insurance is less likely to cover them.”
“For now, the proposed changes do not limit access to vaccines or limit insurance coverage.”
From the older form ensurance, see also assurance. By surface analysis, insure + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.