| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| policy1 |
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| SYLLABICATION: | pol·i·cy |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  p l  -s |
| NOUN: | Inflected forms: pl. pol·i·cies
1. A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters: American foreign policy; the company's personnel policy. 2a. A course of action, guiding principle, or procedure considered expedient, prudent, or advantageous: Honesty is the best policy. b. Prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity in practical matters. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English policie, art of government, civil organization, from Old French. See police.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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