What does policy mean?
Word: Policy
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Policy means a plan of action, or an agreed way of doing things, that a government, a school or a company decides to follow.
How do you spell policy?
Syllables: pol - i - cy
Tricky part: The s sound at the end is spelt with a c, not an s, so polisy is a common slip.
Watch out for: polisy, polisee
Memory tip: Policy closes with cy, the same pair that ends fancy and mercy, where the c also says s.
Policy in a sentence
Example 1: The town council has a policy of planting a new tree for every one that is cut down.
Example 2: Sofia's school has a policy that every pupil reads quietly for twenty minutes after lunch.
Example 3: The library changed its policy, so children can now borrow six books at a time.
Fun Fact
The policy of an insurance company and the policy of a government are thought to come from two different older words: the insurance sense reached English from the Italian polizza, a written note or receipt.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
p_l_cy
a) o, i
b) a, i
c) o, e
d) u, i
Show answer
a) o, i. Policy starts with pol, as polish does, and the second gap takes an i.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
pollicy
a) l
b) i
c) c
d) o
Show answer
a) l. Policy has only one l, the same as polish and polite.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) parliament
b) goverment
c) policy
d) committee
Show answer
b) goverment. Government keeps the n of govern before the ending ment.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A school's new homework policy would most likely tell pupils ___.
a) where to buy new shoes for sport
b) which bus route to take each morning
c) what to eat for lunch every day
d) how much homework to expect each week
Show answer
d) how much homework to expect each week
2. Which of these is an example of a policy?
a) a map of the town showing the parks
b) a rule that all visitors must sign in
c) a list of books kept in the library
d) a song sung at the start of assembly
Show answer
b) a rule that all visitors must sign in
