See Also: policy(1)(dictionary)
Policy(finance)
policy(dictionary)
policy(dictionary)
policy(2)(dictionary)
policy(medicine)
Fiscal policy(finance)
Umbrella policy(finance)
Valued policy(finance)
Policy limit(money)

policy(2) (iou)



policy noun1. LME.
[In branch I from Old French policie from Latin politia from Greek politeia citizenship, government, etc., from polites, from polis city, state: cf. POLICE noun. In branch II from assoc. with Latin politus polished, refined. Cf. also POLITY.]
I.
An organized and established form of government or administration; a constitution, a polity. Now rare or obsolete. LME.
Government; the conduct of public affairs; political science. LME-L18.
Political sagacity or diplomacy; prudence or skill in the conduct of public affairs. Also, political cunning. LME.
a. Prudent or expedient conduct or action; sagacity, shrewdness. Also, cunning, craftiness. LME.
R. L. Stevenson It was good policy..and showed our enemies that we despised their cannonade.
b. A contrivance; a crafty device, a trick. LME-M19.
A course of action or principle adopted or proposed by a government, party, individual, etc.; any course of action adopted as advantageous or expedient. LME.
policy of pinpricks: see PINPRICK noun 2.
W. Lippmann During that peace..Britain pursued a policy of free trade. Sloan Wilson The company had a policy of giving all job applicants an interview. K. Amis It's official policy not to be..discreet.
II. Scot.
a. The improvement or embellishment of an estate, building, town, etc. LME-M18.
b. The improvements so made; the buildings, plantations, etc., used to make improvements. M16-E18.
c. The (usu. enclosed and laid out) park or gardens surrounding a country house. Now usu. in pl. L18.
Scottish Field Kinellar House..is set in policies extending to about 37 acres.
The polishing or refining of manners; refinement, culture. Only in 16.
Comb.: policy-making the devising of esp. government or party policies; policy science the branch of knowledge that deals with the making and implementing of policies; policy wonk: see WONK noun23.