policy

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Derived terms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.3.1.2 Derived terms 1.3.1.3 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

Wikipedia

• IPA: ˈpɒləsi
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old French policie < Latin politia "the state" < Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeia) "polis, (city) state, government"

[edit] Noun

policy (plural policies)

1. A plan or course of action, especially one of an organization or government
   • The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers
2. A course of action thought to be prudent or tactically advantageous; hence prudence or sagacity
   • Honesty is the best policy
   • Some policy players frequented policy shops
3. A statement of commitment to a broad requirement, often used in an organisation to instruct personnel as to a required outcome (note: whereas "Procedures" describe how a policy is implemented).
4. Shrewdness or artfulness
   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Modern Library Edition (1995), page 140

     These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you...

[edit] Derived terms

• policymaker
• policy shift
• endowment policy
• fiscal policy
• monetary policy
• policy mix
• to implement a policy

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From Middle French police < Italian polizza < Mediaeval Latin apodissa "receipt for money" < Ancient Greek ἀπόδειξις (apodeixis) "proof, declaration"

[edit] Noun

policy (plural policies)

1. A contract of insurance
   • Your insurance policy covers fire and theft only.
2. (obsolete) An illegal daily lottery in late nineteenth and early twentieth century USA on numbers drawn from a lottery wheel (no plural)
3. A number pool lottery

[edit] Synonyms

• (number pool) policy racket

[edit] Derived terms

• policyholder

[edit] Translations