insurer
UK: ɪnˈʃʊərə | US: ɪnˈʃʊrər
n. a person or company that provides insurance coverage in exchange for premiums
n. an entity that assumes financial risk by underwriting policies
insurer = insur<secure, protect> + er<agent noun suffix>
- insur: Derived from Old French ensurer (to assure), from Latin securus (safe, secure). The prefix in- (into) + securus evolved into "ensure" and later "insure" in English, emphasizing financial protection.
- er: A suffix denoting an agent (e.g., "teacher," "worker"), here indicating the entity performing the action of insuring.
Etymology Origin:
The word insurer emerged in the 16th century alongside the development of modern insurance practices. It combines the verb insure (to guarantee against loss) with the agent suffix -er, reflecting the role of the party providing security. The Latin root securus underscores the core concept of safety, which persists in the modern financial sense.
The insurer denied the claim due to incomplete documentation.
As a leading insurer, the company offers competitive life insurance policies.
The homeowner filed a complaint against the insurer for delayed compensation.
Insurers assess risks before determining premium rates.
The law requires every driver to have an auto insurer.