unwise
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unwisely adverb
- unwiseness noun
Etymology
Origin of unwise
First recorded before 900; Middle English unwis(e), unwisse, Old English unwīs “unwise, foolish, mad, insane”; un- 1, wise 1
Explanation
Doing something unwise means acting in a foolish or irrational way. It would be unwise to bring your cat to the library with you — you'll probably get in trouble, and the cat is unlikely to enjoy it. Wise means "having sound judgment or intelligence," and when you add the prefix un-, or "not," you get the exact opposite. Making an unwise choice means you're not using your good sense to consider all possible consequences. It would be unwise to wear shorts on the coldest day of the year, and even more unwise to walk barefoot to school in the snow. Use your common sense and wisdom and you'll avoid making unwise decisions!
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.
A congressman from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln who was very hostile to what he thought was an unwise and illegal war with Mexico.
From Slate • Mar. 2, 2026
Trying to trade on unpredictable geopolitical events is generally unwise as the moves are prone to reverse quickly.
From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026
If someone has capacity and refuses a residential home, that must be respected, even if others think it unwise.
From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026
The company has also received criticism for the partnership, with some analysts warning that Apple is making an unwise move in outsourcing its AI capabilities to Google.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 5, 2026
“However, let us assume that you have invited me warmly into your house. It is unwise to linger overlong on doorsteps in these troubled times.”
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
