improvident
adjective
im·prov·i·dent
(ˌ)im-ˈprä-və-dənt 
-ˌdent
: not provident : not foreseeing and providing for the future
improvidently
adverb
Examples of improvident in a Sentence
Her improvident habits left her with no retirement savings.
the improvident view that the wearing away of the ozone layer need not concern us
Recent Examples on the Web
Then, there’s the waste that results from improvident eating habits.
—
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Unsurprisingly, Peter proves to be nasty, brutish and improvident.
—Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022
Going that route is improvident.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Mar. 2022
The history of emerging markets is full of imprudent investors as well as improvident borrowers.
—The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
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Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Unsurprisingly, Peter proves to be nasty, brutish and improvident.
—Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, 2 Dec. 2022
Going that route is improvident.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 5 Mar. 2022
The history of emerging markets is full of imprudent investors as well as improvident borrowers.
—The Economist, 5 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Improvident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/improvident. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
improvident
adjective
im·prov·i·dent
(ˈ)im-ˈpräv-əd-ənt
-ə-ˌdent
: not providing or saving up for the future
improvidently
adverb
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