uninsured
gb/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd/ us/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd/
B2
English
~ 8700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
not protected by insurance
Not having insurance to pay if something bad happens or if you need care or repairs.
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] is uninsured
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "uninsured" with "ensured" or "assured" because they look similar. "Uninsured" is only about not having insurance. Also, some learners think it can describe feelings (e.g. *"I feel uninsured"*); it should describe protection or status related to insurance, not emotions.
Synonyms
without insurance (More explicit phrase; slightly more casual and longer but same basic meaning.)
|
not covered (Often used in insurance discussions; can also refer to specific risks rather than having no policy at all.)
Antonyms
insured (Direct opposite; clearly states that someone or something has insurance coverage.)
|
covered (Common in insurance talk, meaning protection exists, often for a specific risk or cost.)
Collocations
uninsured driver
|uninsured motorist
|uninsured patient
|uninsured losses
|remain uninsured
|leave [someone] uninsured
Themes
finance
|law
|transport
|healthcare
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The car was completely uninsured when the accident happened.
- Many young adults remain uninsured because they cannot afford monthly premiums.
- If your phone is uninsured, you will have to pay for any repairs yourself.
- The company was sued for hiring uninsured contractors.
- After the storm, hundreds of uninsured homes were badly damaged.
Learner examples
- My brother is uninsured, so he is afraid to get sick.
- That old bike is uninsured, but I do not worry about it.
- The driver was uninsured and had to pay for everything.
- I do not want to be uninsured when I travel.
- Her small shop stayed uninsured to save money.
Noun
C1
entity
2
people who lack insurance
All the people who do not have any insurance, often talked about as a group in news or politics.
Usage pattern:
the uninsured [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly say *"an uninsured"* to refer to one person. In this noun use, "the uninsured" almost always refers to people as a group. To talk about one person, use the adjective: "an uninsured driver", "an uninsured worker".
Synonyms
people without insurance (Longer and more explicit phrase, used when speaking more generally or clearly to non-specialists.)
Antonyms
the insured (Standard opposite group term meaning people who do have insurance coverage.)
Collocations
the uninsured rate
|millions of uninsured
|low-income uninsured
|care for the uninsured
|services for the uninsured
|coverage for the uninsured
Themes
healthcare
|politics
|finance
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new law aims to reduce the number of uninsured in the country.
- Clinics in this area provide low-cost care for the uninsured.
- Policymakers are debating how to help the uninsured get basic health coverage.
- In this state, the uninsured are more likely to skip necessary medical treatment.
- Programs have been created to connect the uninsured with affordable plans.
Learner examples
- The government wants to help the uninsured.
- This hospital gives free care to the uninsured.
- Many uninsured do not go to the doctor.
- The number of uninsured is falling this year.
- Charities raise money for the uninsured.
Grammar
Dictionary form
uninsured
IPA
GB/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd/
US/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd/
Syllables & stress
un - in - sured (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (sured)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: uninsured
Word family
Expressions
the uninsured
1/ðə ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd/
fixed phrase
group term for uninsured people
All people who do not have insurance, talked about together as one group.
Examples
- The government introduced a plan to expand coverage for the uninsured.
- Nonprofit clinics play a key role in treating the uninsured.
- Politicians disagree on how to reduce the number of the uninsured.
uninsured driver
1/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd dɹˈaɪvɚ/
fixed phrase
driver without auto insurance
A person who drives a car but does not have car insurance.
Examples
- The police fined the uninsured driver for breaking the law.
- An uninsured driver crashed into her car on the highway.
- Campaigns warn about the risks of being an uninsured driver.
uninsured losses
1/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd lˈɔsɪz/
fixed phrase
technical
costs not covered by insurance
Money you lose from damage or problems that your insurance does not pay for.
Examples
- The company had to cover significant uninsured losses after the flood.
- Their policy left them with large uninsured losses to pay out of pocket.
- Travelers are advised to buy extra insurance to avoid uninsured losses.
uninsured motorist coverage
1/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd mˈoʊtɚɪst kˈʌvɚɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
auto insurance for uninsured drivers
A part of car insurance that pays your costs if another driver causes an accident and that driver has no insurance.
Examples
- Our policy includes uninsured motorist coverage in case we are hit by an uninsured driver.
- In some states, uninsured motorist coverage is required by law.
- He added uninsured motorist coverage after hearing about a friend's accident with an uninsured driver.
uninsured patient
1/ˌʌnɪnʃˈʊɹd pˈeɪʃənt/
fixed phrase
patient without health insurance
A person who needs medical care but does not have health insurance.
Examples
- The clinic offers discounts for every uninsured patient.
- Hospitals often struggle with the cost of treating the uninsured patient population.
- As an uninsured patient, he had to ask about payment plans before surgery.