Added 9 October 2026
policy
/ˈpɒl.ə.si/ noun
Latin root: politia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about policy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers.
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A document describing such a policy.
Please print extra copies of this policy and post them where it will be easy for everyone to see.
- Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
verb
noun
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A contract of insurance. A document containing or certifying this contract.
Your insurance policy covers fire and theft only.
- A contract of insurance.
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A document containing or certifying this contract.
Your insurance policy covers fire and theft only.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)