forethought

1 of 2

noun

fore·​thought ˈfȯr-ˌthȯt 

1

: a thinking or planning out in advance : premeditation

2

: consideration for the future

forethought

2 of 2

adjective

archaic

: aforethought

Synonyms

Noun

• farsightedness
• foresight
• foresightedness
• prescience
• providence
• vision

Examples of forethought in a Sentence

Noun

Her decision showed a lack of forethought.

With a little forethought, you can save yourself a lot of work later on.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While Elisabeth, an aging actress, and her younger not-quite-doppelgänger Sue (Margaret Qualley) share the blame for prescription-medication abuse, what appears to motivate their reckless errors comes down to matters of etiquette and forethought. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024

Unlike a quick trip to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon for hyaluronic acid filler, fat grafting involves going under IV sedation, a type of anesthesia administered through a vein, and requires much more forethought and planning. —Taryn Brooke, Allure, 24 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Tax planning requires forethought, timing, and a constant analysis of the ever evolving legal landscape. —Jessica Ledingham, J.d., Ll.m., Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Unlike consumer-facing apps, AI adoption at the enterprise level requires significant resources and forethought. —Ricardo Madan, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

forethought

noun

fore·​thought

ˈfō(ə)r-ˌthȯt,

ˈfȯ(ə)r-

: thought or care taken in advance

forethoughtful

-fəl

adjective