1an arrangement by which a company or the state undertakes to provide a guarantee of compensation for specified loss, damage, illness, or death in return for payment of a specified premium:many new borrowers take out insurance against unemployment or sickness
the business of providing insurance:Howard is in insurance
money paid for insurance:my insurance has gone up
money paid out as compensation under an insurance policy:when will I be able to collect the insurance?
2a thing providing protection against a possible eventuality:jackets were hung on the back of their chairs, insurance against an encounter with air-conditioning [count noun]:a marquee was hired as an insurance against the weather