adjective
-
discreet or cautious in managing one's activities; circumspect
-
practical and careful in providing for the future
-
exercising good judgment or common sense
Other Word Forms
- nonprudent adjective
- preprudent adjective
- prudently adverb
- superprudent adjective
- unprudent adjective
Etymology
Origin of prudent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prūdent- (stem of prūdēns ), contraction of prōvidēns provident
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.
"Given the epidemiological study that inspired our work, and now our cellular findings, we believe it would be prudent for people to monitor their consumption of non-nutrient-sweeteners such as this one," he said.
From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026
Looking at its daily chart, losing the 200-day simple moving average is not a crime, as many prudent stops are placed at this long-term secular line.
From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026
That rule was prudent back when firms went public early in their life cycle at total market values well below $1 billion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
From a technical perspective, stocks in this sector appear likely for a prudent pause in the very least and a likely tactical pullback.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
“We approve. Afterward some bard will make a stirring song about you, no doubt, and we shall have a more prudent lord commander.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
