policy

noun

ˈpä-lə-sē How to pronounce policy (audio)
Definition of policynext
1
as in procedure
a way of acting or proceeding it's always been my policy not to spread rumors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters you should have exercised greater policy in your online relationships and not divulged so much personal information

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of policy But any final result — whether before or after the upcoming fall elections — would hinge on the court’s six conservative justices, who have not yet considered the president’s policy on its merits. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Last year, the Pentagon imposed a strict new press policy that saw nearly all media outlets exit rather than sign an agreement to abide by the policy. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026 Trump administration and policy pushback A federal judge rules that Pres. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Texans saw the pain of the bad economic policies under Joe Biden and the Democrats. — NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for policy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for policy
  1. procedure
  2. prudence
  3. strategy
  4. wisdom
  5. program
  6. sense
  7. discretion
Noun
  • The disclosure contends that, because of the new procedures, a single scanning error in a batch of tens of thousands of ballot envelopes could prevent any from reaching voters.
    — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That puts cybersecurity closer to the reactor’s engineering core, where decisions about digital controls, physical systems, and operational procedures begin to take shape.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of procedure
Noun
  • Short-term rates went to 5% and change, Treasury bills paid more than investment grade corporates, and savers who had spent fifteen years being punished for prudence suddenly got paid handsomely for doing nothing.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In those conditions, United’s prudence makes financial sense.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of prudence
Noun
  • DeepMind's Demis Hassabis has similarly described a future that plays to that strategy.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Joseph Marchese has joined creator network Bent Pixels as executive VP of creator strategy and business as the firm revs up its portfolio of support services offered to attention-economy clients.
    — William Earl, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of strategy
Noun
  • The higher standards down the pecking order can help keep the brightest talent in the game for longer, with the next generation benefitting from that wisdom.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • At the beginning of the 20th century, the prevailing wisdom about raising children could be remarkably grim.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of wisdom
Noun
  • His older brother, Ethan, is a freshman guard at Wabash Valley, a high-profile junior college basketball program.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Her replacement, Christophe Leribault, critics say, is a somewhat safer pick who will likely shift the museum away from the robust contemporary art program under Des Cars, and toward a more French and Western-centric vision.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of program
Noun
  • In that sense, hitting one in his second career at-bat, which was sandwiched by two strikeouts, was fitting.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Combining unexpected items can make a lot of sense and save precious space in your backpack.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • Is flexibility written policy or manager discretion, because those two behave very differently the week somebody has a stroke.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Under federal law, states have little discretion to reject extradition requests from fellow states.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of discretion

Browse Nearby Words

policing (up)
policy
poling
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Cite this Entry

“Policy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/policy. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on policy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about policy

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