insurance
insurance — noun
1. A system in which a person makes regular payments to a company, and the company
A system in which a person makes regular payments to a company, and the company pays for the person's expenses when something bad happens, such as damage, injury, or illness.
Hoa took out travel insurance before her trip to Japan.
collocation: take out + insurance
A tree fell on the roof, so the family filed an insurance claim for repairs.
collocation: file an insurance claim
Ravindra pays for health insurance through his employer every month.
Without car insurance, you cannot legally drive on public roads in most countries.
The insurance company refused to pay because the damage was not covered by the policy.
- coverage
focuses on the scope of what is protected; more informal than 'insurance'
- protection
broader term that does not require a formal financial agreement
- indemnity
formal/legal term meaning compensation for loss; rare in everyday speech
文法句型
insurance + against + noun/gerund
take out + insurance
have + insurance
用法筆記
Frequently used as an uncountable noun ('I need insurance'). Plural form ('insurances') appears when referring to multiple policies or types of coverage: 'She has several insurances on her properties.'
常見錯誤
2. An action, habit, or resource that helps prevent or reduce the harm caused by po
An action, habit, or resource that helps prevent or reduce the harm caused by possible future problems.
Caleb installed a security system as insurance against break-ins.
figurative: as insurance against [risk]
Keeping an emergency fund is good insurance for unexpected expenses like medical bills.
Yuki made copies of every important document as insurance in case the originals were lost.
The farmers planted three different crops as insurance against a single harvest failing.
For many families, having a second income is a form of insurance against financial hardship.
- protection
more direct and general; less metaphorical than 'insurance'
- safeguard
emphasizes active prevention; slightly more formal
- precaution
focuses on actions taken beforehand rather than a resource held in reserve
- risk
the thing that insurance protects against, not the protective measure itself
文法句型
as + insurance + against + noun/gerund
form of + insurance
用法筆記
Always singular. Almost always followed by 'against' to specify the risk being prevented. 'For' is occasionally used ('insurance for a rainy day') but is less natural.
常見錯誤
insurance — adjective
1. In sports, describes an additional score that increases a team's existing lead s
In sports, describes an additional score that increases a team's existing lead so much that the trailing team cannot catch up or tie with a single further score.
The team scored an insurance run in the ninth inning, making the score 5 to 2.
collocation: insurance run
With an insurance goal in the final minutes, the home team secured their victory.
collocation: insurance goal
James's insurance touchdown gave his school a comfortable lead late in the fourth quarter.
That insurance point turned a possible tie into a sure win for the visitors.
文法句型
insurance + noun (run, goal, point, touchdown, etc.)
用法筆記
Only used before a noun in sports contexts. Cannot stand alone as a predicate: 'The run was insurance' is incorrect. Most common in American English sports commentary, especially baseball and American football.