Deductible
Etymology
From Latin "deducere" (to lead or take away) — de "away" + ducere "to lead". It is the portion deducted from what the insurer will pay, left for you to cover first. The same root gives us "deduct" on a tax return, another sum subtracted before a total is reached.
noun · /dih-DUK-tuh-bul/
The amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance begins to cover costs.
What it names
The gap you personally absorb on each claim — the reason “I have insurance” doesn’t mean “this is free.”
Example
The repair cost $1,800, but with a $1,000 deductible the insurer only reimbursed $800.
Related idea
Do not confuse it with a copay, a small fixed fee per visit or service; the deductible is a larger threshold you clear once before coverage kicks in at all.