policy
n. C / Un. a set of rules or a plan of action chosen by a business, government, or group. It tells people what they should or should not do in specific situations.
n. a deliberate system of principles or rules adopted by an organisation or government to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes.
The store has a strict return policy for electronics.
The university introduced a new policy on plagiarism to ensure all students understand the consequences of cheating.
Critics argued that the central bank's monetary policy was too restrictive, stifling economic growth in an attempt to curb inflation before it became entrenched.
From Middle English policie, from Old French policie, pollicie and police, from Late Latin politia (“citizenship; government”), classical Latin polītīa (in Cicero), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía, “citizenship; polis, (city) state; government”), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Doublet of police, polis (“police”), and polity.
From Middle French police, from Italian polizza, from Medieval Latin apodissa (“receipt for money”), from Ancient Greek ἀπόδειξις (apódeixis, “proof, declaration”). Doublet of apodixis.
Often followed by an infinitive clause or the preposition 'on' to specify the subject matter.
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open-door policy
A policy or usual practice, by a person in authority, of permitting subordinates or constituents to visit his or her office unannounced and at any reasonable time for the purpose of discussing matters of concern.
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ostrich policy
The tendency to ignore obvious problems and pretend they do not exist; ostrichism.