prudent
UK: ˈpruːdnt | US: ˈpruːdnt
adj. acting with or showing care and thought for the future
adj. cautious in avoiding unnecessary risks or mistakes
prudent = prud<foresight> + ent<adjective suffix>
- prud<foresight>: From Latin prud- (contracted form of provid-), meaning "to foresee" or "to be cautious."
- ent<adjective suffix>: A suffix forming adjectives, derived from Latin -entem, indicating a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word prudent traces back to Latin prudens, a contraction of providens ("foreseeing"). It combines pro- ("before") + videre ("to see"), reflecting the idea of looking ahead to avoid harm. Over time, prudent evolved in Middle English to emphasize practical wisdom and caution, retaining its core logic of foresight.
It would be prudent to save money for emergencies.
She made a prudent decision to invest in stable stocks.
His prudent approach prevented costly mistakes.
Prudent travelers always check the weather forecast.
The CEO’s prudent leadership guided the company through the crisis.