definitions

preparedness

[ pri-pair-id-nis, -paird-nis ]
/ prɪˈpɛər ɪd nɪs, -ˈpɛərd nɪs /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR preparedness ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state of being prepared; readiness.
possession of adequate armed forces, industrial resources and potential, etc., especially as a deterrent to enemy attack.

RELATED CONTENT

What Do Hurricane Category Numbers Mean?Part of the drama of hurricane season revolves around the predicting and changing of the severity – or category – of the storm.
READ MORE
Overwhelm vs. UnderwhelmOverwhelm vs. Underwhelm. These two might seem like straightforward antonyms, but there are a few differences to keep in mind.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

disregard, failure, oversight, neglect, laxity, laxness, inattention, thoughtlessness, forgetfulness, slackness, remissness

Nearby words

preparatory, preparatory school, prepare, prepared, prepared piano, preparedness, preparental, prepatellar bursitis, prepatent period, prepay, prepense

Origin of preparedness

First recorded in 1580–90; prepared + -ness

Related forms

un·pre·par·ed·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unpreparedness

British Dictionary definitions for unpreparedness

preparedness

/ (prɪˈpɛərɪdnɪs) /

noun

the state of being prepared or ready, esp militarily ready for war

Derived Forms

preparedly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012