principal sum
principal sum — noun
1. a fixed amount of money that an insurance company agrees to pay to the person wh
a fixed amount of money that an insurance company agrees to pay to the person who holds the policy, or to their family, if the policyholder dies or loses a body part or eyesight in an accident that the policy covers
After Otis lost his leg in the factory accident, the insurer paid him the full principal sum.
pay + the full principal sum (passive: was paid)
The principal sum for Ayana's travel insurance policy was stated on the first page.
the principal sum for [policy] + passive
If the insured dies in a covered accident, the principal sum goes to their family.
When doctors confirmed Kevin had lost his sight, the insurer paid the principal sum within two weeks.
The policy document listed a principal sum of two hundred thousand dollars for accidental death.
- payout
less formal and broader — can refer to any type of insurance or investment payment, not just the specific accident-related sum
- death benefit
narrower — only used when the insured person dies, whereas principal sum also covers loss of limb or sight
- face value
more common in life insurance; refers to the amount printed on the policy, which may be the same as the principal sum
文法句型
the principal sum
principal sum (of) [amount]
pay/receive the principal sum
用法筆記
This term appears almost exclusively in insurance policy documents and legal claims. The principal sum is a single pre-agreed amount, unlike a reimbursement that depends on actual expenses.