prudence
1 Americannoun
noun
-
caution in practical affairs; discretion or circumspection
-
care taken in the management of one's resources
-
consideration for one's own interests
-
the condition or quality of being prudent
Related Words
Prudence, calculation, foresight, forethought imply attempted provision against possible contingencies. Prudence is care, caution, and good judgment, as well as wisdom in looking ahead: sober prudence in handling one's affairs. Calculation suggests a disposition to get a large return for as small an outlay as possible and willingness to benefit at the expense of others: cold calculation. Foresight implies a prudent looking ahead rather far into the future: clear foresight in planning. Forethought emphasizes the adequacy of preparation for the future: Careful forethought helped him deal with the emergency.
Other Word Forms
- nonprudence noun
Etymology
Origin of prudence
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prūdentia. See prudent, -ence
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.
Policymakers provide broad loss protection—either explicitly or implicitly—thereby weakening private incentives for prudence.
From Barron's
They have adjusted their grocery shopping at times to avoid price spikes for beef and other items, but more out of prudence than a need to budget, he said.
"The United States must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence," he warned, according to the state's Xinhua news agency.
From BBC
Such reforms would need innovation and creativity to implement time-tested values of prudence and fiscal discipline.
With the sun on its downward arc and a 500-foot descent ahead to fulfill that wistful desire, he thought prudence dictated that it was time to turn home.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
