policy
/ˈpɑ.lə.si/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.17 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.
Archaic; Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers."
- "It's company policy that all mobile phones are forbidden in meetings."
- "Federal policy is constructed in complex ways, involving legislation, regulation, and lobbying."
- "Please print extra copies of this policy and post them where it will be easy for everyone to see."
- "[H]e [Richard I of England] was diſcovered in an inne in Auſtria, becauſe he diſguiſed his perſon not his expenſes; ſo that the very policie of an hoſteſſe, finding his purſe ſo farre above his clothes, did detect him: […]"
- "These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; […]"
Etymology
From Middle English policie, from Old French policie, pollicie and police, from Late Latin politia (“citizenship; government”), classical Latin polītīa (in Cicero), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía, “citizenship; polis, (city) state; government”), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Doublet of police, polis (“police”), and polity.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɑ.lə.si/
- British English: /ˈpɒl.ə.si/