foresight

[fawr-sahyt, fohr-]

noun

1. care or provision for the future; provident care; prudence.

2. the act or power of foreseeing; prevision; prescience.

3. an act of looking forward.

4. knowledge or insight gained by or as by looking forward; a view of the future.

   Synonyms: foreknowledge

5. Surveying.

   1. a sight or reading taken on a forward point.

   2. (in leveling) a rod reading on a point the elevation of which is to be determined.

foresight

/ ˈfɔːˌsaɪt /

noun

1. provision for or insight into future problems, needs, etc

2. the act or ability of foreseeing

3. the act of looking forward

4. surveying a reading taken looking forwards to a new station, esp in levelling from a point of known elevation to a point the elevation of which is to be determined Compare backsight

5. the front sight on a firearm

Other Word Forms

• foresighted adjective
• foresightedly adverb
• foresightedness noun
• foresightful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foresight¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, foresight is from the Middle English word forsight. See fore-, sight

Synonym Study

See prudence.

Example Sentences

He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.

Read more on BBC

In creating Barron’s Investor Circle, we sought to channel the same creativity and foresight that led Clarence Barron to found the magazine more than a century ago.

Read more on Barron's

“My grandfather had a foresight that this genre would be the future.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The warning resurfaced on social media this week, going viral as users grappled with the unnerving reality of the Times’ editorial foresight.

Read more on Salon

“With hindsight, obviously it’s a different view than with foresight,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• insight 
• prudence