foresight

noun

fore·​sight ˈfȯr-ˌsīt 

1

: an act or the power of foreseeing : prescience

Through foresight she could tell what the outcome would be.

2

: provident care : prudence

had the foresight to invest his money wisely

3

: an act of looking forward

also : a view forward

foresighted

ˈfȯr-ˌsī-təd 

adjective

foresightedly adverb

foresightedness noun

foresightful

ˈfȯr-ˌsīt-fəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• foreknowledge
• prescience

Examples of foresight in a Sentence

They had the foresight to invest the money wisely.

His career choice shows a lack of foresight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Positioning the county for success requires specific planning and foresight. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024

Exercise financial foresight as the moon meets Uranus. —USA TODAY, 25 June 2024

The two states’ advantages came thanks to bureaucratic foresight; war games at the Naval War College, for instance, showed U.S. Navy leaders the carriers’ potential. —Paul Scharre, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2023

Think outside the box and use discipline and foresight to implement your plan. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

foresight

noun

fore·​sight ˈfō(ə)r-ˌsīt 

ˈfȯ(ə)r-

1

: the act or power of foreseeing

2

: care or preparation for the future

had the foresight to invest his money wisely

foresighted

-ˌsīt-əd 

adjective

foresightedly adverb

foresightedness noun