in ‧ sur ‧ ance S2 W2 /ɪnˈʃʊərəns $ -ˈʃʊr-/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [uncountable] an arrangement with a company in which you pay them money, especially regularly, and they pay the costs if something bad happens, for example if you become ill or your car is damaged ⇨ assurance , third party insurance :
Your father took out insurance to cover the mortgage.
health/car/travel etc insurance
insurance against
insurance against loss of income due to unemployment
insurance on/for
Do you have insurance on your house and its contents?
claim (for) something on your insurance (=get an insurance company to pay for something)
We can probably claim the damage on our insurance.
⇨ ↑ life insurance
2 . [uncountable] the business of providing insurance:
My brother works in insurance.
insurance company/group etc
the insurance industry
3 . [uncountable] British English the money that you pay regularly to an insurance company SYN insurance premium
insurance on
How much is the insurance on your car?
4 . [singular, uncountable] protection against something bad happening
insurance against
An extra lock on the door is an added insurance against burglars.
⇨ ↑ National Insurance
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + insurance
▪ health/medical insurance
None of her family have private health insurance.
▪ travel insurance
Most banks are also able to arrange travel insurance.
▪ car/motor insurance
He was fined for driving without motor insurance.
▪ house/home insurance
The damage may be covered by your house insurance.
▪ life insurance
Surprisingly few families have adequate life insurance.
▪ accident insurance
You also get free travel accident insurance if you pay for your tickets with a credit card.
▪ comprehensive insurance (=car insurance that pays for damage whether it is caused by you or by someone else)
The cost of comprehensive insurance is likely to drop.
▪ third-party insurance (=insurance that pays money to someone who is hurt or whose property is damaged by something you have done)
You are legally obliged to take out third-party insurance.
■ insurance + NOUN
▪ an insurance policy (=an insurance agreement)
This insurance policy represents excellent value for money.
▪ an insurance claim
She filed an insurance claim for the missing jewellery.
▪ an insurance company
Rachel works for an insurance company.
▪ an insurance broker (=a company or person that arranges and sells insurance to people)
Bellingham practised as an insurance broker.
▪ an insurance scheme
The costs involved in private medical insurance schemes have risen steeply.
▪ an insurance premium (=money that you pay regularly to an insurance company)
Your insurance premium is payable when you make your holiday booking.
▪ an insurance payment
He'd fallen behind with his insurance payments.
▪ an insurance certificate/a certificate of insurance
The courts recognize the insurance certificate as evidence of being insured.
▪ insurance cover
The scheme provides full insurance cover for pre-existing medical conditions.
▪ insurance fraud
Insurance fraud costs the industry millions of pounds each year.
▪ an insurance salesman
He offered me a post as a life insurance salesman.
▪ the insurance industry
The insurance industry is very competitive.
■ verbs
▪ have insurance (=have an insurance policy)
Do you have insurance on your yacht?
▪ be covered by insurance (=be included in an insurance policy)
Flood damage isn't covered by the insurance.
▪ take out insurance (=buy an insurance policy)
We decided to take out insurance on the house and its contents.
▪ get insurance informal:
I'm thinking of getting house insurance.
▪ buy insurance
You can buy insurance against risks of all kinds.
▪ claim something on your insurance (=get an insurance company to pay for something)
He claimed the money back on his travel insurance.
▪ arrange insurance
A finance company will be able to arrange insurance for you.
▪ sell insurance
The company sells insurance alongside its electrical products.
▪ insurance covers something
The insurance covered the cost of rebuilding the house after the fire.
▪ insurance pays for something
His insurance paid for the damage to the car.