policy

Definitions

From Greek politeía 'governance, administration' via Latin politīa. The art of running a community condensed into 'a deliberate plan of action.' That is why one word covers government policy, company policy, and even an insurance policy.

Why It Means This

Policy and police are secret twins — both come from Greek politeía ('governance'). Policy kept the meaning of governing as planning: a settled course of action you commit to in advance. The insurance sense grew from the same idea of a fixed, written arrangement. Keep it apart from politics: politics is the arena, policy is the plan you choose within it.

Common Collocations

• 1.foreign policy外交政策
• 2.public policy公共政策
• 3.company policy公司政策
• 4.policy maker政策制定者
• 5.insurance policy保险单

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The company has a strict no-refund policy.

• 2.

  The government announced a new policy on renewable energy.

• 3.

  Honesty has always been my policy in business.

• 4.

  She took out a life insurance policy for her children.

Easily Confused

policy vs politics — policy is a specific chosen plan (an insurance policy, a foreign policy); politics is the whole field of government and power. You 'set a policy' but you 'go into politics.'