A policy is a set of principles or rules that guide decisions and actions within an organization, government, or individual context. It serves as a framework for consistency and direction, helping to determine how particular situations should be handled. Policies can be formal, documented rules or informal guidelines that influence behavior and decision-making.
The word "policy" comes from the Middle French word policie, which means "policy, politics," derived from the Latin politia, meaning "citizenship, government, administration," and from the Greek polis, meaning "city."