English

Noun

imprudence ‎(usually uncountable, plural imprudences)

1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being imprudent; want of prudence, caution, discretion or circumspection; indiscretion; inconsideration; rashness; heedlessness.
2. (countable) An imprudent act.
   • 1753, Theophilus Cibber, The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753):

     At about the age of twenty-three, to crown his other imprudences, he married, without improving his reduced circumstances thereby.

   • 1891, Francois Coppee, Ten Tales:

     Yes, for six months he threw all his medicines in the fire, and designedly committed all sorts of imprudences.

   • 1903, S.C. Hill, Three Frenchmen in Bengal:

     This man finally fell a victim to his diplomacies, perhaps also to his imprudences.

   • 1906 – 1921, John Galsworthy, “Encounter”, in The Forsyte Saga, volume 1:

     He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children.

Translations

References

• imprudence in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• imprudence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

French

Pronunciation

Noun

imprudence f ‎(plural imprudences)

1. imprudence, rashness

Related terms

• imprudent