policy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

   it was a policy of retribution

2. 2
   noun

   written contract or certificate of insurance

   you should have read the small print on your policy

3. 3
   noun

   a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government

   they debated the policy or impolicy of the proposed legislation

4. 4
   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.

   The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers.

5. 5
   noun

   A document describing such a policy.

   Please print extra copies of this policy and post them where it will be easy for everyone to see.

6. 6
   noun

   Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.

   [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: […]

7. 7
   noun

   Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.

   I, 'policie? that's their profession, And not simplicity, as they suggest.

8. 8
   noun

   The grounds of a large country house.

   1775, Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland section on Aberbrothick Now and then about a gentleman’s house stands a small plantation, which in Scotch is called a policy, but of these there are few, and those few all very young.

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.