Definitions for prudence
ˈprud nspru·dence

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. prudence(noun)

   discretion in practical affairs

2. discretion, discreetness, circumspection, prudence(noun)

   knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress

   "the servants showed great tact and discretion"

Wiktionary(1.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prudence(Noun)

   The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality.

   Etymology: From prudence.

2. Prudence(ProperNoun)

   A female given name from English, one of the Puritan virtue names.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Prudence(noun)

   the quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality

Freebase(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prudence

   Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues. The word comes from Old French prudence, from Latin prudentia. It is often associated with wisdom, insight, and knowledge. In this case, the virtue is the ability to judge between virtuous and vicious actions, not only in a general sense, but with regard to appropriate actions at a given time and place. Although prudence itself does not perform any actions, and is concerned solely with knowledge, all virtues had to be regulated by it. Distinguishing when acts are courageous, as opposed to reckless or cowardly, for instance, is an act of prudence, and for this reason it is classified as a cardinal virtue. Although prudence would be applied to any such judgment, the more difficult tasks, which distinguish a person as prudent, are those in which various goods have to be weighed against each other, as when a person is determining what would be best to give charitable donations, or how to punish a child so as to prevent repeating an offense.

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. PRUDENCE

   A quality of mind that restrains the wise boarder from trying to find out how his landlady makes her hash.

How to pronounce prudence?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say prudence in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of prudence in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of prudence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of prudence in a Sentence

1. Amy Spitalnick:

   Budget monitors and rating agencies have all applauded this administration's fiscal prudence and focus on protecting against economic uncertainty – and investors agree.

2. Mary Cholmondeley:

   Every day I live I am more convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing and which, shirking pain, misses happiness as well.

3. Author Unknown:

   A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner, neither do uninterrupted prosperity and success qualify for usefulness and happiness. The storms of adversity, like those of the ocean, rouse the faculties, and excite the invention, prudence, skill and fortitude or the voyager. The martyrs of ancient times, in bracing their minds to outward calamities, acquired a loftiness of purpose and a moral heroism worth a lifetime of softness and security.

4. Alexander Shein:

   Israel’s prudence from the outbreak of the conflict in Syria has become apparent in the fact that Israel did not consider the overthrow of President Assad as an indispensable condition to avoid foreign intervention and impediment for the beginning of a national reconciliation.

5. Johann Kaspar Lavater:

   Who makes quick use of the moment is a genius of prudence.

Images & Illustrations of prudence

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