Word
insurance
Phoneticsin·sur·ance, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈʃʊɹəns/
UK/ɪnʃˈɔːɹəns/
Definitions
01financial protection
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. an agreement where you pay a company money and they pay your costs if something bad happens, like a car crash or a fire.
n. a contract or system providing financial protection or reimbursement against specified types of loss or damage.
日本語:保険※
“You need to have valid car insurance before you are allowed to drive on the road.”
“The homeowner discovered that his standard insurance did not cover damage caused by rising floodwaters, leaving him with significant repair costs.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun, but can be countable when referring to specific types (e.g., 'different insurances').
Synonyms
02the industry
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the business of providing financial protection to people and companies.
n. the commercial sector or industry involved in the provision of insurance policies.
日本語:保険※
“After finishing university, she found a well-paying job in insurance.”
“The insurance industry has faced unprecedented challenges due to the increasing frequency of climate-related natural disasters.”
Synonyms
03a safety measure
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something you do to protect yourself against a possible problem in the future.
n. a precautionary measure taken to guard against a potential negative outcome.
日本語:保険※
“I took a spare battery with me as insurance in case my phone died.”
“The team signed a veteran goalkeeper as insurance against their primary starter suffering another mid-season injury.”
Synonyms
04a policy document
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law
n. the actual document or contract that shows you are protected.
n. a specific insurance policy or contract document.
“Please keep your insurance in a safe place where you can find it easily.”
“The legal department requested a copy of the insurance to verify the liability limits before signing the partnership agreement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “insurance” in context.
Verb
01. claim on insurance
“We had to claim on our insurance after the basement flooded during the storm.”
verb + prep + noun
02. provide insurance
“Many employers provide health insurance as part of their benefits package.”
verb + noun
03. take out insurance
“You should take out insurance before you go on your skiing holiday.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. comprehensive insurance
“It is worth paying more for comprehensive insurance to ensure full coverage for your car.”
adj + noun
05. private insurance
“Some patients choose private insurance to avoid long waiting lists in the public system.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. insurance claim
“The company rejected his insurance claim because he hadn't locked his front door.”
noun + noun
07. insurance policy
“Please read the terms of your insurance policy carefully before signing it.”
noun + noun
08. insurance premium
“Your monthly insurance premium may increase if you make a claim.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. without insurance
“Driving without insurance is a serious legal offense in most countries.”
prep + noun
10. insurance companies
11. insurance costs
12. insurance coverage
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
From the older form ensurance, see also assurance. By surface analysis, insure + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/insurance
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0