preparedness
Americannoun
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the state of being prepared; readiness.
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possession of adequate armed forces, industrial resources and potential, etc., especially as a deterrent to enemy attack.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preparedness
Explanation
Preparedness is a condition of being completely ready for something, especially some kind of disaster. Your family's preparedness for an approaching hurricane might include an evacuation plan. The noun preparedness has been around since the 16th century, originally simply meaning "a state of being prepared." That definition is still used today, but it's more common when talking about something potentially devastating, like a war or a natural disaster. If you live on an earthquake fault line, your town's preparedness may consist of emergency shelters and reinforced buildings. A country's military preparedness is its readiness to fight a war or defend itself.
Vocabulary lists containing preparedness
Haiti Earthquake One-Year Report
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Unit 8, Week 3
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The Suffix -ness, Part 3
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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.
WaterAid Ghana's director Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur called for "stronger urban planning and preparedness measures, to safeguard communities before, during and after extreme weather events".
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
The United States has pledged $13.5 million to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts, but critics also oppose what they see as colonial overtones in the arrangement.
From Barron's • Jun. 23, 2026
The UC Academic Senate chair said in a letter that it “has become clear that academic preparedness for college is a growing challenge.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
These included initiatives addressing pandemic preparedness and outbreak response, health security, and infectious disease treatment.
From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026
He added that Compton, “like all of us, is very anxious that we scientists do everything we can in the direction of preparedness, and we discussed ways and means.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
