Meaning & use
a policy
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
A plan or set of rules that a company, government, or group follows when it makes decisions.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a policy, two policies, or this policy; the plural is policies.
Patterns
- a policy on something
- a policy of doing something
- follow a policy
- change a policy
The school has a strict policy on mobile phones in class.
Our company policy is to answer every customer within one day.
The government announced a new policy to help small businesses.
phrasecountable
A regular way of behaving that a person or organization chooses, often without writing it down.
Grammar: Often used with 'of doing': my policy of never lending money to friends.
Patterns
- someone's policy of doing something
- make it a policy to do something
It is my policy to check the figures twice before sending them.
Making it a policy to arrive early saved her a lot of stress.
phrasecountablebusinessfinance
An insurance contract, or the document that shows what it covers.
Grammar: In this sense it is usually used with insurance words: an insurance policy, take out a policy.
Patterns
- an insurance policy
- take out a policy
- a policy covers something
Their home insurance policy covers damage from storms.
She took out a policy that pays for dental treatment.
Word forms
| plural | policies |
|---|
Common combinations
- company policy
- Company policy does not allow staff to accept expensive gifts.
- government policy
- Government policy on energy has changed three times this year.
- a policy on something
- The club has a clear policy on the use of its equipment.
- follow a policy
- All branches must follow the same policy on refunds.
- change a policy
- The airline changed its policy after many passengers complained.
- an insurance policy
- Read your insurance policy before you make a claim.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- policyholder noun
- A person who has an insurance policy.
- policymaker noun
- Someone who decides the official plans of a government or company.
- policymaking noun
- The activity of deciding official plans and rules.
Commonly confused: a policy or politics? a policy or police?
a policy vs politics
Politics is the activity of government and political parties; a policy is one plan or rule that comes out of it.
a policy vs police
Police are the people who enforce the law; a policy is a rule or plan, and the two words sound similar at the start.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'policy' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Explain something to someone' is the correct pattern, and 'policy' is a countable noun that takes a plural 'policies', so option 0 fits. Option 3 uses 'of' where the meaning needs 'to', and option 2 wrongly makes 'staff' plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a policy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.