actuary

noun

ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce actuary (audio)
-shə-,
-ˌwe-rē-
plural actuaries
1
obsolete : clerk, registrar
2
: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends

Examples of actuary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rademacher stressed that the more conservative payment schedule the board ultimately adopted created less volatility in financial models created by the pension system’s actuary. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 Lara recently told lawmakers that his office is trying to hire more analysts and actuaries to improve the review process. Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 12 Feb. 2024 Michael Soller, a department spokesman, said in an email the department’s rate regulation unit has nearly 100 actuary and analyst positions and was working to fill eight openings. Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 12 Feb. 2024 Unfortunately, subsequent deals and collective-bargaining agreements negotiated with multiple governors of both parties ignored prudent financial advice from actuaries and allowed the contracts to override state law. Bryce Chinault, National Review, 13 Feb. 2024 For the other policies, premium amounts were developed through the use of an actuary, Allen Rosenbach of ACR Solutions Group, Inc. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 The pension system actuary, Gene Kalwarski, continued to support Scenario 3 over Scenario 5. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2024 As budget woes loom, officials are weighing these options Jan. 9, 2024 The board quickly narrowed its choices to two — Scenario 3, which was endorsed by the pension system actuary, and Scenario 5, which city finance officials prefer. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2024 Pension assets the actuaries are counting on to be invested become unavailable, and investment earnings are lost. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'actuary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin āctuārius "shorthand writer, keeper of accounts," alteration (with -u- from the u-stem action noun āctus) of *āctārius, from āctum "public transaction, record" + -ārius -ary entry 1 — more at act entry 1

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of actuary was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near actuary

Cite this Entry

“Actuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actuary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

actuary

noun
ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce actuary (audio)
-shə-
plural actuaries
: a person who calculates insurance premiums and dividends
actuarial
ˌak-chə-ˈwer-ē-əl
adjective

Legal Definition

actuary

noun
ac·​tu·​ary ˈak-chə-ˌwer-ē, -shə- How to pronounce actuary (audio)
plural actuaries
: a person who calculates insurance and annuity premiums, reserves, and dividends

More from Merriam-Webster on actuary

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