imprudence

[ im-prood-ns ]

noun

1. lack of wisdom or care in the management of practical or economic affairs:

   Your decisions demonstrate fiscal imprudence and shortsighted thinking.

2. lack of discretion or caution:

   The whistleblower learned of the scheme through the hiring executive's imprudence.

3. disregard for one’s own interests:

   His own imprudence and unreasonable conduct are what caused the second injury.

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprudence¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French, from Latin imprūdentia; in- ³( def ), prudence

Example Sentences

Critics say this "financial imprudence" has drained much of the country's economic resources and created unprecedented levels of debt that have crippled the economy.

From BBC

A former restaurant tycoon turned mercenary leader, Prigozhin was done in by some of his most famous traits—brazen imprudence, overweening self-confidence, and blithe gullibility toward his own P.R.

From Slate

Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said investigators would seek to “determine whether or not there was failure to respect a rule or individual imprudence that led to the explosion.”

From Seattle Times

One can debate the level of their imprudence in parking millions of dollars in cash in unprotected accounts, but it does appear that many if not most were not investment plutocrats, but rather executives of tech startups and other companies dependent on that money to launch operations and pay their employees’ wages.

From Los Angeles Times

The 2008 banking bailout protected many of the executives whose manifest imprudence created the housing crash that precipitated the financial crisis.

From Los Angeles Times