policy

pronunciation

How to pronounce policy in British English: UK [ˈpɒləsi] word uk audio image

How to pronounce policy in American English: US [ˈpɑːləsi] word us audio image

Noun:

a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
written contract or certificate of insurance

Word Origin

policy: policy: English has two distinct and completely unrelated words policy. The one meaning ‘plan of action’ [14] comes via Old French policie from Latin polītīa ‘civil administration’, source also of English police and the now archaic polity [16]. This in turn came from Greek polīteíā, a derivative of pólis ‘city’ (source of English politics).But the insurance policy [16] comes via French police ‘document’ and Provençal polissa from medieval Latin apodissa, an alteration of Latin apodīxis ‘proof, demonstration’, which in turn was acquired from Greek apódeixis, a compound noun derived ultimately from the verb deiknúnai ‘show’.=> politics; diction

policy (n.1): "way of management," late 14c., policie, "study or practice of government; good government;" from Old French policie (14c.) "political organization, civil administration," from Late Latin politia "the state, civil administration," from Greek politeia "state, administration, government, citizenship," from polites "citizen," from polis "city, state" (see polis). Meaning "plan of action, way of management" first recorded c. 1400.

policy (n.2): "written insurance agreement," 1560s, from Middle French police "contract, bill of lading" (late 14c.), from Italian polizza "written evidence of a transaction," from Old Italian poliza, from Medieval Latin apodissa "receipt for money," from Greek apodexis "proof, declaration," from apo- "off" + deiknynia "to show," cognate with Latin dicere "to tell" (see diction).