policy
1 Americannoun
plural
policies-
a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc..
We have a new company policy.
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a course of action adopted and pursued by a government, ruler, political party, etc..
our nation's foreign policy.
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action or procedure conforming to or considered with reference to prudence or expediency.
It was good policy to consent.
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prudence or expediency; shrewdness.
Showing great policy, he pitted his enemies against one another.
- Synonyms:
- wit, calculation, acumen, prudence
- Antonyms:
- naiveté
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Rare. government; polity.
noun
plural
policies-
a document embodying a contract of insurance.
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a method of gambling in which bets are made on numbers to be drawn by lottery.
noun
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a plan of action adopted or pursued by an individual, government, party, business, etc
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wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity
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(often plural) the improved grounds surrounding a country house
noun
Usage
What does policy mean? Policy most commonly refers to a rule or plan of action, especially an official one adopted and followed by a group, organization, or government.Policy is most commonly used in the context of laws (government policy), a country’s course of action toward others (foreign policy), and the standards or rules that all members of an organization must follow (such as company policy and school policy). Policy also has several other meanings, including an insurance contract.Example: Management encourages carpooling, but they haven’t made it an official company policy yet.
Etymology
Origin of policy1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English policie “art of government, government, civil administration,” from Middle French, from Latin polītīa polity
Origin of policy2
First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle French police “written proof, documentary evidence,” (from Italian polizza, from Medieval Latin apodissa, apodīxa “receipt, security,” ultimately from Greek apódeixis “a showing or setting forth”; apodictic, -sis ) + -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Milan Fashion Week ends on Monday, with focus now turning to Paris Fashion Week -- which similarly does not have an anti-fur policy.
From Barron's
She also covers the e-commerce industry and related trade policies.
He advised passengers to check their travel insurance policies.
From BBC
Marine insurance companies have been canceling policies for ships traveling through the strait, and 50% price hikes in the next few days are likely, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing brokers.
From MarketWatch
Under California law, police agencies are required to adopt detailed usage and privacy policies governing license plate data, restrict access to authorized purposes, and regularly audit searches to prevent misuse.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
