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
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.
As Blake Fuchtman, chief actuary at small business insurance provider biBerk explains, understanding the small business insurance gaps that cost owners the most can help founders get necessary coverage before costly claims disrupt their business. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Ringsted has worked at Chubb for 22 years, initially joining in 2004 as chief actuary. — John Kell, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 David Kornwitz is a pension actuary and has served as Chair of the Wellesley Retirement Board for more than 30 years. — David Kornwitz, Boston Herald, 8 Sep. 2026 After that, the state must perform a financial impact analysis, Mann added, which would be evaluated by the chief actuary at the federal Medicaid agency. — Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actuary

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

Rhymes for actuary

See All Rhymes for actuary

Browse Nearby Words

actuaries' table
actuary
actuate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actuary. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about actuary

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