# policy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɒl.ə.si/ · frequency rank #699

## Definitions
1. A principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body.
2. A document describing such a policy.
3. Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
4. Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.
5. The grounds of a large country house.
6. The art of governance; political science.
7. A state; a polity.
8. A set political system; civil administration.
9. A trick; a stratagem.
10. Motive; object; inducement.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **Polly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/policy-vs-polly)
- **polio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/policy-vs-polio)
- **Polish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/policy-vs-polish)
- **polite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/policy-vs-polite)
- **polity** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/policy-vs-polity)
- **Pliny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pliny-vs-policy)
- **police** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/police-vs-policy)
- **polices** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/polices-vs-policy)

## Common misspellings (9)
`oplicy`, `ploicy`, `poilcy`, `polciy`, `policcy`, `policyy`, `poliyc`, `pollicy`, `ppolicy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/policy