Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

improvident

play
adjective im·prov·i·dent \(ˌ)im-ˈprä-və-dənt, -ˌdent\

Definition of improvident

  1. :  not provident :  not foreseeing and providing for the future

improvidently

adverb

See improvident defined for English-language learners

See improvident defined for kids

Explore M-W

alt-597233d35a146
Trending: 'Scaramouch,' Scaramucci Possibly to Fandango
image386126722
Words That Come From the Dinner Table
alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail
emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

improvident was our Word of the Day on 06/21/2009. Hear the podcast!

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Get Word of the Day daily email, delivered to your inbox!

Examples of improvident in a Sentence

  1. Her improvident habits left her with no retirement savings.

  2. the improvident view that the wearing away of the ozone layer need not concern us

Origin and Etymology of improvident

Late Latin improvident-, improvidens, from Latin in- + provident-, providens provident

improvident Synonyms

Synonyms
myopic, shortsighted
Antonyms
farsighted, forehanded, foreseeing, foresighted, forethoughtful, provident
Related Words
careless, heedless, imprudent, incautious, injudicious, mindless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary, unwise; extravagant, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, thriftless, unthrifty; indulgent, lavish, reckless, wasteful
Near Antonyms
careful, judicious, prudent, sensible, wise; economic, economical, economizing, frugal, scrimping, sparing, thrifty; conserving, preserving, saving

IMPROVIDENT Defined for English Language Learners

improvident

play
adjective

Definition of improvident for English Language Learners

  • : not providing or saving for the future : not wise or sensible regarding money

Learn More about improvident

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for improvident Nglish: Translation of improvident for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up improvident? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

tare

play

the weight of a container

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  2. non sequitur “It does not follow”

  3. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  4. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

  5. kakistocracy Frustrated Twitter users have been searching for this word.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

improvident

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

Give them your best

image386126722
Words and Phrases That Come from the Dinner Table

Fill your plate with these surprising food words

ghost-being-disinvited-from-party
'Disinvite' or 'Uninvite'?

A disinvited guest is an uninvited problem

alt-596f730ceb5ae
Words We're Watching: 'Scoby'

Kombucha lovers unite.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: improvident in a Sentence