Preparedness

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /pɹɪˈpɛə(ɹɪ)dnɪs/

Definitions

1. The state of being ready or equipped to handle a situation or emergency effectively
2. A condition characterized by being fully equipped and ready to respond to unexpected events or crises
3. The quality of having resources and plans in place to effectively face potential challenges or emergencies

Etymology: "Preparedness" is a plain English compound: the adjective "prepared" with the suffix "-ness" attached. "Prepared" itself comes from the verb "prepare," which was borrowed from Latin "praeparare," meaning "to make ready beforehand," with the past-tense ending "-ed" added to form the adjective. The suffix does the heavy lifting here. "-ness" is an old Germanic formation, inherited from Old English "-nes," that turns an adjective into a noun naming a state or quality. So "prepared" (ready in advance) becomes "preparedness," the condition of being in that state. The Old English "-nes" ending is the same one found in older words like "darkness" and "goodness," and it has been used to form new nouns freely ever since.

Synonyms: readiness, alertness, vigilance, proactiveness, awareness

Antonyms: unpreparedness, inattentiveness, carelessness, negligence, disorganization