adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of circumspect
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin circumspectus (past participle of circumspicere “to look around”), equivalent to circum- “around, about” ( see circum-) + spec(ere) “to look” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
If you are circumspect, you think carefully before doing or saying anything. A good quality in someone entrusted with responsibility, though sometimes boring in a friend. The word circumspect was borrowed from Latin circumspectus, from circumspicere, "to be cautious." The basic meaning of Latin circumspicere is "to look around." Near synonyms are prudent and cautious, though circumspect implies a careful consideration of all circumstances and a desire to avoid mistakes and bad consequences.
Vocabulary lists containing circumspect
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Grade 11, List 2
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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.
To be fair, as you can see in the full quote above and he said repeatedly elsewhere in the interview, he was trying to be circumspect about it all.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
“Voice of a Century” is not intended to supplant Allan Keiler’s definitive 2000 biography—one of Mr. Tommasini’s main sources, along with Anderson’s endearing but circumspect 1956 autobiography, “My Lord, What a Morning.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Teams are always circumspect about doing anything too exotic during the preseason, lest they give regular-season opponents something to study.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Members of Congress are expected to question Warsh about his plans to reduce inflation, though he is likely to be circumspect in his answers.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 12, 2026
The newspapers say that the police are being more circumspect, that they cannot afford to make another hasty arrest.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
