foresight

noun

fore·​sight ˈfȯr-ˌsīt 

1

: an act or the power of foreseeing : prescience

Through foresight she could tell what the outcome would be.

2

: provident care : prudence

had the foresight to invest his money wisely

3

: an act of looking forward

also : a view forward

foresighted

ˈfȯr-ˌsī-təd 

adjective

foresightedly adverb

foresightedness noun

foresightful

ˈfȯr-ˌsīt-fəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• foreknowledge
• prescience

Examples of foresight in a Sentence

They had the foresight to invest the money wisely.

His career choice shows a lack of foresight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Industry experts say Taiwan grew its own semiconductor industry organically through a combination of foresight, hard work and investment. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

Look on the sunny side of life — endless opportunities to flourish based on skill, foresight, industry, and ambition. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024

But the complacent emperor, possessing neither the material means nor the foresight to recognize the technology’s significance, dismissed the proposal. —Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024

Truly, the threats to the network are physical, so the importance of planning and foresight in protecting and expanding this essential infrastructure cannot be overstated. —David Joosten, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

foresight

noun

fore·​sight ˈfō(ə)r-ˌsīt 

ˈfȯ(ə)r-

1

: the act or power of foreseeing

2

: care or preparation for the future

had the foresight to invest his money wisely

foresighted

-ˌsīt-əd 

adjective

foresightedly adverb

foresightedness noun