policy

policy · noun, verb¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπολιτεία“citizenship; polis, (city) state; government”
2. Latin · derived frompolītīa
3. Old French · derived frompolicie
4. Middle English · inherited frompolicie
5. English todaypolicy

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.

policy · noun²

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀπόδειξις“proof, declaration”
2. Italian · derived frompolizza
3. Middle French · derived frompolice
4. English todaypolicy

From Middle French police, from Italian polizza, from Medieval Latin apodissa (“receipt for money”), from Ancient Greek ἀπόδειξις (apódeixis, “proof, declaration”). Doublet of apodixis.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body.
• from 15th c. Wise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
• from 15th c. Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.
• from 18th c. The grounds of a large country house.
• 14th–18th c. The art of governance; political science.
• 14th–16th c. A state; a polity.
• 15th–19th c. A set political system; civil administration.
• 15th–19th c. A trick; a stratagem.