cannot be insured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be insured" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something is deemed uninsurable, often in discussions about insurance policies or risk assessments. Example: "Due to the high risk of natural disasters in the area, this property cannot be insured."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

De Beers might be an exception: if an NGO campaign made diamonds unfashionable, thus reducing the value of De Beers' stockpile (currently valued at about $4 billion), the damage would be quantifiable, and therefore, in theory at least, insurable.Where risks cannot be insured against, they can often be subcontracted.

The Economist

It cannot be insured any more, he says, unless the government acts as insurer of last resort.Lawmakers in Washington, DC, have been at loggerheads on this issue for nearly a year.

The Economist

"We work hard but we cannot be insured against individual cases".

The Guardian - Sport

Knight defined true uncertainty as the doubt about the future which cannot be reduced to known probabilities and cannot be insured against.

The New Yorker

Stoudemire is a possible financial risk because of his injury history -- including knee surgery in 2005 and eye surgery in 2009 -- and his contract cannot be insured.

The New York Times

The overseas radiologists who read American images are generally United States citizens themselves, Mr. Levy said, because doctors who have not passed American boards cannot be insured against malpractice.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Because Massachusetts now requires its residents to be insured, it cannot fall back on the strategy used by other states in hard times — to simply remove people from the public insurance rolls by restricting eligibility.

The New York Times - Health

Call for change The current law governing the Naadam festival states that children under 7 years old cannot race, and jockeys must be insured and wear protective gear.

Unicef

Frank H. Knight (1921) introduced the distinction between risk, which can be insured for and thus treated as a regular cost of production, and uncertainty, which cannot.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Good to be insured," Pete agreed.

The New Yorker

The transplant recipients must be insured.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be insured", clearly state the reason for uninsurability to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For instance, "Due to its age and structural instability, the building cannot be insured."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "cannot be insured" implies worthlessness. Something uninsurable may still have significant value, but the risk associated with insuring it is too high. For example, a rare artifact might be uninsurable due to its uniqueness and the difficulty of assessing its value, but it is still valuable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be insured" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is ineligible for insurance coverage. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction clearly expresses that insurance policies are unattainable for a specific item, event, or entity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cannot be insured" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote that something is ineligible for insurance coverage. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness in various contexts. It is often used in news, science, and formal business settings to clearly communicate that insurance options are unattainable due to high risks or policy limitations. While synonyms such as "is uninsurable" exist, understanding the specific reasons behind the lack of insurability is crucial for effective communication. When using this phrase, avoid implying that the uninsurable item is necessarily worthless; its value might simply be offset by the high risks involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is uninsurable

Direct synonym, replacing the verb construction with a single adjective.

insurance is unavailable

Focuses on the unavailability of insurance rather than the inherent quality of being uninsurable.

coverage is not obtainable

Highlights the impossibility of getting insurance coverage.

policies will not cover

Specifies that policies actively exclude coverage for something.

it's impossible to insure

Shifts the focus to the act of insuring, emphasizing the impossibility.

risks are too high to insure

Explains why something cannot be insured, due to excessive risk.

insurance companies refuse coverage

Attributes the lack of insurability to the decision of insurance companies.

no insurer will provide cover

Similar to the above, but uses more formal language.

falls outside standard insurance parameters

Emphasizes that something is not insurable because it does not fit typical insurance criteria.

does not meet insurability requirements

Focuses on the failure to fulfill the requirements necessary for insurance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "cannot be insured"?

Alternatives include "is uninsurable", "insurance is unavailable", or "coverage is not obtainable", depending on the desired nuance.

What does it mean when something "cannot be insured"?

It means that no insurance company is willing to provide coverage for it, typically due to high risk, difficulty in assessing value, or other factors that make it too risky to insure.

What are some common reasons why something "cannot be insured"?

Common reasons include high risk of damage or loss, pre-existing conditions (in health insurance), unique or rare items with difficult-to-assess values, and activities considered too dangerous.

Is there a difference between "cannot be insured" and "is not insured"?

"Cannot be insured" means it's impossible to obtain insurance for something. "Is not insured" simply means that it currently lacks insurance, but it might be insurable. The key difference is the possibility of obtaining insurance.