preparedness

noun

pre·​pared·​ness pri-ˈper-əd-nəs 

also

-ˈperd-nəs 

: the quality or state of being prepared

especially : a state of adequate preparation in case of war

Examples of preparedness in a Sentence

The military is in a state of preparedness.

Recent Examples on the Web

Climate preparedness works best when leaders provide communities with stable funding, long-term certainty, and the freedom to plan. — Jaclyn De Medicci Bruneau, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026

The emphasis on combat readiness and civilian preparedness reflect Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s priorities amid political constraints, said Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

But preparedness today is uneven because resilience strategies haven’t been fully extended to AI dependencies like identities, data pipelines and agent permissions. — Rick Vanover, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Research has consistently shown that factors such as risk perception, preparedness, confidence in evacuation plans and familiarity with local routes all influence whether people evacuate early, delay leaving or choose to stay behind. — Ashley Bosa, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

prepared + -ness

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preparedness

• unpreparedness

Kids Definition

preparedness

noun

pre·​pared·​ness pri-ˈpar-əd-nəs  -ˈper- 

also -ˈpa(ə)rd-nəs

or -ˈpe(ə)rd-

: the quality or state of being prepared

especially : a state of readiness for war