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

The confrontation spilled into the military, where reservists threatened to suspend volunteer service, raising alarms about Israel's preparedness. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Britain has published household preparedness guidance since May 2024, so the campaign isn’t a sudden signal that war is near. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026

So the Palisades last week was a testing ground for the city’s emergency preparedness. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Uncertainty about potential harm from AI is no reason to postpone preparedness. — César De La Fuente, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

prepared entry 1 + -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