policy
/ˈpɒlɪsi/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
politeia — citizenship, government, or administration of a state
Overview
Meaning Now
- A course or principle of action adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.
- A document detailing the terms and conditions of a contract of insurance.
Literal older meaning
civil administration or statecraft
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
policie
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word traces back to the Greek 'polis' (city-state), reflecting the evolution from managing the affairs of a city to managing organizational or individual strategies.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
politeia
“the state, administration, or citizenship”
- Late Latin
politia
“civil administration”
- Old French
policie
“civil government; public order”
- Middle English
policie
“statecraft, conduct of affairs, or prudence”
Connections
Word parts
polis
root
city or state
Related across languages
French
politique
politics/policy
Italian
polizza
insurance policy
Explore next
Related to policy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.