improvident

American  

[im-prov-i-duhnt] / ɪmˈprɒv ɪ dənt /

adjective

1. not provident; lacking foresight; incautious; unwary.

   Synonyms:

   heedless, imprudent, careless, thoughtless

   Antonyms:

   prudent

2. neglecting to provide for future needs.

   Synonyms:

   prodigal, wasteful, unthrifty, thriftless, shiftless

   Antonyms:

   economical

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improvident British  

/ ɪmˈprɒvɪdənt /

adjective

1. not provident; thriftless, imprudent, or prodigal

2. heedless or incautious; rash

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Other Word Forms

• improvidence noun
• improvidently adverb

Etymology

Origin of improvident

First recorded in 1505–15; im- ² + provident

Explanation

Someone who is improvident doesn't worry about the future — or plan wisely for it. If you spend all your money on video games even though you know you have to buy your mom a birthday present next week, you have made an improvident decision. In the adjective improvident, the prefix im- means "opposite" or "not." Provident comes from the Latin word providere, meaning "foresee, provide." Put that together and you get something that lacks foresight and consideration for the future, like an improvident town council that spends the whole budget on playground equipment, leaving nothing to cover the inevitable repairs to fire trucks or public restrooms.

Example Sentences

Winston Churchill in 1938 charged Britain’s rulers with “an improvident stewardship” in the preceding years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Jon Provost played Timmy, a well-intentioned but improvident child who often finds himself in life-threatening situations that require Lassie to alert his folks and guide them to him.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025

She did quit her job to take care of him, but they were improvident and did not buy long-term care insurance.

From Washington Post • Nov. 1, 2021

Her restlessness manifests itself in a familiar way—she makes an improvident purchase and leaves her husband of twentysome years, but instead of buying a convertible, Sam buys a house.

From Slate • Jul. 13, 2021

To financial incompetence and to the employment of improvident methods of raising money, the nuns occasionally added extravagance.

From Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535 by Power, Eileen