English Explanatory Dictionary

policy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body.
  2. A document describing such a policy.
  3. Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
  4. Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.
  5. The grounds of a large country house.
  6. The art of governance; political science.
  7. A state; a polity.
  8. A set political system; civil administration.
  9. A trick; a stratagem.
  10. Motive; object; inducement.
verb
  1. To regulate by laws; to reduce to order.
noun
  1. A contract of insurance.
  2. A document containing or certifying this contract.
  3. An illegal daily lottery in late nineteenth and early twentieth century USA on numbers drawn from a lottery wheel (no plural)
  4. A number pool lottery

Pronunciation

/ˈpɒl.ə.si/ /ˈpɒl.ɪ.si/ /ˈpɑ.lə.si/ /ˈpɑl.si/ en-us-policy.ogg /ˈpɔl.ə.si/

Word forms

policy policies policying policied

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

policy racket

Derived words

antipolicy discretionary fiscal policy domestic policy domestic policy council endowment policy exit policy fiscal policy foreign policy honesty is the best policy metapolicy Mexico City policy micropolicy mispolicy monetary policy multipolicy nonpolicy one-child policy open door policy open-door policy ostrich policy policied policy by press release policy economy policy holder policyholding policy institute policy interest rate policy keyboard policyless policymaker policy maker policy-making policymaking policy mix policy pattern policy rate policyscape policy shift policy shop policywise policy wonk privacy policy public policy same-origin policy scorched-earth policy scorched earth policy social policy subpolicy time policy title policy umbrella policy valued policy walk policy policyholder
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