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preparedness

American  
[pri-pair-id-nis, -paird-nis] / prɪˈpɛər ɪd nɪs, -ˈpɛərd nɪs /

noun

  1. the state of being prepared; prepare; readiness.

  2. possession of adequate armed forces, industrial resources and potential, etc., especially as a deterrent to enemy attack.

preparedness British  
/ prɪˈpɛərɪdnɪs /

noun

  1. the state of being prepared or ready, esp militarily ready for war

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • preparedly adverb
  • unpreparedness noun

Etymology

Origin of preparedness

First recorded in 1580–90; prepared + -ness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another trend visible across social networks is one of growing emergency preparedness: people stockpiling canned food, torches and water bottles, and assembling emergency backpacks.

From BBC

It said the money for Zimbabwe would have gone towards "HIV/Aids treatment and prevention, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and disease outbreak preparedness".

From BBC

Among the benefits of marching is, of course, battle preparedness, as well as physical fitness, but it also helps a puffin think, and Major Puff had something important to think about at that moment.

From Literature

Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen told AFP military investment and preparedness had been ramped up in case the neighbours become "aggressive in the future".

From Barron's

Now, a new federal bill with bipartisan support has been introduced to beef up emergency preparedness for pets in the event of natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.