Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
insulin resistance syndrome
insulin shock
insult
insulting
insuperable
insupportable
insurable interest
insurable value
insurance
insurance policy
insure
insurer
insurgent
insurmountable
insurrection
insusceptible
inswing
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "insurance" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

insurance

in·sur·ance [ in shrənss ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. financial protection against loss or harm: an arrangement by which a company gives customers financial protection against loss or harm such as theft or illness in return for payment premium

2. money paid by insurance company: the sum of money that an insurance company pays or agrees to pay if a specific undesirable event occurs

3. premium: the payment made to obtain insurance
My car insurance has gone up again.

4. insurance business: the commercial business of providing insurance

5. means of protection: an act, measure, or provision that gives protection against an undesirable event or risk
provided a map as insurance against getting lost



adjective 
Definition:
 
sports preventing of opponent from tying game: in some sports, relating to an act of scoring that increases a team's lead to the extent that the other side cannot tie the game in a single play

[15th century. < Old French enseürance< enseürer (see ensure)]

The correct pronunciation of insurance places primary stress on the second syllable /in shrənss, /, not on the first syllable /ín shrənss, /.

Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft