imprudence
Americannoun
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lack of wisdom or care in the management of practical or economic affairs.
Your decisions demonstrate fiscal imprudence and shortsighted thinking.
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lack of discretion or caution.
The whistleblower learned of the scheme through the hiring executive's imprudence.
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disregard for one’s own interests.
His own imprudence and unreasonable conduct are what caused the second injury.
Etymology
Origin of imprudence
First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, from Latin imprūdentia; see origin at in- 3 ( def. ), prudence
Explanation
Imprudence sometimes gets people in trouble, because it means a lack of care or thoughtfulness. The imprudence of not wearing your gloves in the winter might result in frostbite on your fingers. A person's imprudence is her tendency to rush headlong into decisions or actions without careful contemplation. Imprudence could lead a couple to get married just a week after meeting each other or a little girl to chase a run-away ball into a busy street. The Latin root word is imprudentem means "not forseeing, unaware, or inconsiderate."
Vocabulary lists containing imprudence
A Thousand Splendid Suns
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Northanger Abbey
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Sense and Sensibility
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It should be noted the Imprudence has not been an infallible guide to the Guineas chances of Head-Maarek's horses.
From The Guardian • Apr. 27, 2010
Special Duty was beaten at odds-on when making her reappearance in the Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte this month, but Head-Maarek had anticipated an unimpressive performance.
From The Guardian • Apr. 27, 2010
“I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me.”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Imprudence is one of the chief characteristics of this genus of iniquity.
From Explanation of Catholic Morals A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals by Stapleton, John H. (John Henry)
Such Imprudence with its bad Consequences, often leaves the Patient, even after the Disease is cured, in a State of Languor and Weakness for a considerable Time.
From Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health by Tissot, S. A. D. (Samuel Auguste David)
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.
