caution in practical affairs; discretion or circumspection
care taken in the management of one's resources
consideration for one's own interests
the condition or quality of being prudent
Prudence, calculation, foresight, forethought imply attempted provision against possible contingencies. Prudence is care, caution, and good judgment, as well as wisdom in looking ahead: sober prudence in handling one's affairs. Calculation suggests a disposition to get a large return for as small an outlay as possible and willingness to benefit at the expense of others: cold calculation. Foresight implies a prudent looking ahead rather far into the future: clear foresight in planning. Forethought emphasizes the adequacy of preparation for the future: Careful forethought helped him deal with the emergency.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prūdentia. See prudent, -ence
Use the noun prudence to describe sensible decisions about everyday life, like the prudence of people who spend their money wisely, saving as much as they can. Prudence can also describe the skill of side-stepping trouble or embarrassment, like having the prudence to avoid risks or the prudence to prepare for the unexpected, like packing a change of clothes in case the weather changes or your dinner reservations turn out to be at a fancy restaurant. Prudence comes from the Latin word prudentia, which means "foresight, sagacity."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” isn’t a happy accident; it’s a vital reminder of the immense value of human art and creativity, exemplified by this movie’s prudence.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
“Forecasting the impact of all these headwinds on the theme park segments at Disney and Comcast is guesswork. But prudence dictates that we trim our forecasts.”
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
That sentiment — not panic but prudence — captures the mood reflected in the data.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026
"The United States must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence," he warned, according to the state's Xinhua news agency.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
With remarkable prudence he acknowledged that his calculations could be wrong if "sources now unknown to us are prepared in the great storehouse of creation"–but it was clear that he thought that unlikely.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
