prudent

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Etymology

From Middle English, from Middle French prudent, from Latin prūdēns, contracted from prōvidēns (“foresight”) (English providence), the past participle of prōvideō (“I forsee”). Unrelated to prude.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹuːdənt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

prudent (comparative more prudent, superlative most prudent)

1. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; careful, discreet, sensible; -- opposed to rash; directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence;
   • 1864, Jules Verne, chapter 30, A Journey to the Center of the Earth^[1]:

     He did not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to continue on to Omaha, for it would be dangerous to return to the train, which the Indians might still be engaged in pillaging.

   • Moses established a grave and prudent law. --Milton.
2. Practically wise, judicious, shrewd

   His prudent career moves reliably brought him to the top

3. Frugal; economical; not extravagant;

   Only prudent expenditure may provide quality within a restrictive budget

Derived terms

• prudence
• prudently

Synonyms

• cautious, wary, circumspect, considerate, discreet, judicious, provident, economical, frugal, sagacious, sensible, careful, wise, reasonable

Antonyms

• imprudent

Related terms

• jurisprudence
• prudence
• prudential
• provident

Translations

sagacious in adapting means to ends

• Arabic: حريص (ḥarīṣ), حكيم (ḥakīm)

  Egyptian Arabic: حريص (ḥarīṣ)

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 謹慎 (zh), 谨慎 (jǐnshèn), 慎重 (zh) (shènzhòng)

• Dutch: voorzichtig (nl), omzichtig (nl), vooruitziend (nl)
• Finnish: harkitsevainen, varovainen, viisas (fi)

• French: prudent (fr)
• German: umsichtig (de), vorsichtig (de)
• Japanese: 慎重 (ja) (しんちょう, shinchō)
• Maori: matawhaiti
• Russian: рассудительный (ru) (rassudítelʹnyj), благоразумный (ru) (blagorazúmnyj), осторожный (ru) (ostoróžnyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: glic
• Swedish: förtänksam (sv)

practically wise, judicious, shrewd

• Dutch: slim (nl), sluw (nl), beredeneerd (nl), doordacht (nl)
• Russian: проницательный (ru) (pronicátelʹnyj)

• Scottish Gaelic: glic
• Swedish: slug (sv)

frugal; economical; not extravagant

• Arabic: حريص (ḥarīṣ)
• Dutch: zuinig (nl), economisch (nl)

• Finnish: harkitsevainen
• Russian: бережливый (ru) (berežlívyj), расчётливый (ru) (rasčótlivyj)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: prudent
• Italian: avveduto m, avveduta f

• Spanish: atentado

Anagrams

• uptrend

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pʁy.dɑ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

prudent m (feminine prudente, masculine plural prudents, feminine plural prudentes)

1. prudent

Antonyms

• imprudent

Related terms

• prudence