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preparedness

[pri-pair-id-nis, -paird-nis]
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noun
  1. the state of being prepared; readiness.
  2. possession of adequate armed forces, industrial resources and potential, etc., especially as a deterrent to enemy attack.
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Origin of preparedness

First recorded in 1580–90; prepared + -ness
Related formsun·pre·par·ed·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

disregardfailureoversightneglectlaxitylaxnessinattentionthoughtlessnessforgetfulnessslacknessremissnessunpreparedness

Examples from the Web for unpreparedness

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Their state of unpreparedness is amazing, if less desperate than ours.

    England and Germany

    Emile Joseph Dillon

  • Much has been said and written since 1914 concerning the unpreparedness of the army for war.

  • The war has revealed in us an unpreparedness in foreign and domestic policy.

  • It is, therefore, as against the other, in a state of unpreparedness for war.

    Battle Studies

    Charles-Jean-Jacques-Joseph Ardant du Picq

  • It is the American people only who are not aware of the truth about our unpreparedness.

British Dictionary definitions for unpreparedness

preparedness

noun
  1. the state of being prepared or ready, esp militarily ready for war
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Derived Formspreparedly, 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

Word Origin and History for unpreparedness

preparedness

n.

1580s, from prepared + -ness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper