preparedness

noun

pre·​pared·​ness pri-ˈper-əd-nəs How to pronounce preparedness (audio)
also
-ˈperd-nəs How to pronounce preparedness (audio)
: 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 As spring starts Tuesday, officials encourage tornado preparedness. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 19 Mar. 2024 Saturday: Wrap-Up: Importance of preparedness and action during threatening hazards. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 These resources include social media graphics, flyers, guides and videos of preparedness and flooding in Indigenous languages. Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 Now a member of CERT himself, Zhang’s passion for emergency preparedness has spread throughout his community. Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Imagine almost the entire population stuffed in the smallest city, without any kind of preparedness, with families who have been forced to flee without anything. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024 Reservist pilots, who are crucial to the air force’s preparedness and combat power, threatened to withdraw from service if the laws were passed. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024 The Times’ complete guide to storm safety preparedness El Niño and climate change are supercharging incoming storm Today’s top stories Grammys 2024 The storm wasn’t the only thing happening in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024 His most recent position was assistant director for public health preparedness. Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preparedness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

prepared + -ness

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preparedness was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near preparedness

Cite this Entry

“Preparedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preparedness. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

preparedness

noun
pre·​pared·​ness pri-ˈpar-əd-nəs How to pronounce preparedness (audio) -ˈper- How to pronounce preparedness (audio)
 also  -ˈpa(ə)rd-nəs,
 or  -ˈpe(ə)rd-
: the quality or state of being prepared
especially : a state of readiness for war

More from Merriam-Webster on preparedness

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