IMPROVIDENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does improvident mean? 

• IMPROVIDENT (adjective)
  The adjective IMPROVIDENT has 2 senses:

1. not provident; not providing for the future

2. not given careful consideration

  Familiarity information: IMPROVIDENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMPROVIDENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not provident; not providing for the future

Similar:

myopic; short; shortsighted; unforesightful (lacking foresight or scope)

thriftless (careless of the future)

unforethoughtful (lacking forethought)

Also:

imprudent (not prudent or wise)

wasteful (tending to squander and waste)

Antonym:

provident (providing carefully for the future)

Derivation:

improvidence (a lack of prudence and care by someone in the management of resources)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not given careful consideration

Synonyms:

ill-considered; ill-judged; improvident; shortsighted

Context example:

an ill-judged attempt

Similar:

imprudent (not prudent or wise)

 Context examples 

I do not deny that he is improvident.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I wonder he should be so improvident in a point of such common, such natural, concern!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)