comprehensive
In auto insurance, a specific type of coverage that pays for damage to your vehicle caused by events other than collisions, such as theft, fire, vandalism, hail, or animal strikes.
Despite its name meaning 'all-inclusive' in general English, 'comprehensive' auto insurance does NOT cover everything. It specifically excludes collisions with other cars or stationary objects.
Word relationships
- all-inclusive: All-inclusive implies absolutely no exceptions, whereas comprehensive insurance has specific exclusions defined in the policy.
- limited: Limited coverage only protects against a few specific named perils, whereas comprehensive covers a broad range of non-collision events.
Commonly confused with
- collision: Collision covers crashing into things while driving; comprehensive covers 'acts of God' and non-driving incidents.
Word family
- comprehend (verb): To understand or include.
- comprehensively (adv): In an all-inclusive manner.
- comprehensiveness (noun): The state of being complete or all-inclusive.
Collocations
- comprehensive coverage
- comprehensive policy
- comprehensive insurance
- collision and comprehensive
Example sentences
- "Her comprehensive coverage paid for the windshield replacement after a stray rock chipped the glass." Auto Insurance Claims
Memory hook
Comprehensive coverage 'comprehends' (includes) almost every random thing that can happen to your parked car. Comprehensive covers the unexpected.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a policy that covers literally every possible risk; it is a specific category of physical damage coverage.
Fun facts
- The word 'prehensile' (like a monkey's tail that can grasp branches) shares the exact same Latin root 'prehendere' as 'comprehensive'.
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