How do you use the word "prudence" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "prudence": It is clear that he failed for lack of prudence. A man of prudence wouldn't say such things.

Prudence Meaning

/ˈpɹuːd(ə)n(t)s/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounThe quality or state of being prudent: circumspection and good judgment in knowing how best to act; (countable, archaic) an instance of this.

nounSynonym of frugality (“the quality of avoiding unnecessary expenditure; economy, parsimony, thrift, thriftiness”).

Sentence Examples

It is clear that he failed for lack of prudence.

A man of prudence wouldn't say such things.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

discretion

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The investor showed great ____ by carefully researching the market before buying shares.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Financial ____ meant she always kept three months of living expenses in a separate savings account.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English prudence (“discretion; foresight; knowledge; intelligence, wisdom; act of good judgment; wisdom to see what is virtuous”), from Anglo-Norman prudence, Middle French prudence, and Old French prudence (“common sense; wisdom”) (modern French prudence), and from their etymon Latin prūdentia (“common sense; discretion, prudence; foresight; knowledge; providence; skilfulness; wisdom”), from prūdent- (the stem of prūdēns (“knowledgeable, skilful; wise, prudent”)) + -ia (suffix forming first-declension feminine abstract nouns). Prūdēns is a contraction of prōvidēns (“caring for; foreseeing; providing”) (whence prōvidentia (“foreknowledge, foresight; forethought, precaution, providence”)), the present active participle of prōvideō (“to care for, look after; to foresee; to provide, see to”), from prō- (prefix meaning ‘forward; prior’) + videō (“to perceive, see; to comprehend, understand; to look out for, care for”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to see; to know”)). Doublet of provide and purvey.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"[T]here are ſo many concurrencies vvhich have their attending cheques; vvhich poſſible are to be, but actually, vvere not improved in remedy that the prevalence of the Fire againſt, and in deſpight of thoſe vvonted prudences, and uſual reſiſtances, and the Latitude of effects, ſeconding ſuch a neglect of impending means, vvhere ſo vvell underſtood, and ſo dextrouſly at other times practiſed; […]" — 1666 October 30 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Edward Waterhous[e], “To His Noble Friend and Kinsman, Sr. Edwarde Turno[u]r, Knight; Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons in this Present Parliament”, in A Short Narrative of the Late Dreadful Fire in London: […], London: […] W. G. for Rich[ard] Thrale […], and James Thrale […], published 1667, →OCLC, page 36:

"Concerning intellectual Habits or the genuine effects of theſe acts in the underſtanding Faculty, and they are divers and diverſly expreſſed by thoſe that have treated thereof. […] Prudence, vvhich is principally in reference to actions to be done, the due means, order, ſeaſon, method of doing or not doing." — a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, “Touching the Excellency of the Humane Nature in General”, in The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC, section I, page 57:

"Prudence, like experience, must be paid for." — 1777 May 8 (first performance; rewritten a. 1817), Richard Brinsley Sheridan, “The School for Scandal: A Comedy”, in Thomas Moore, editor, The Works of the Late Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan. […], volume II, London: John Murray, […]; James Ridgway, and Thomas Wilkie, published 1821, →OCLC, Act IV, scene iii, page 104:

"[U]nder pretence of carrying in a pitcher of vvater, he entered the priſon, though, his prudence having prevented him from telling the ſentinel the real motive of his viſit, he vvas obliged to make his conference vvith the priſoner a very ſhort one." — 1794 May 8, Ann Radcliffe, chapter IX, in The Mysteries of Udolpho, a Romance; […], volume III, London: […] G. G. and J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, pages 277–278:

"Novv as I don't much chuſe to have my girls go to theſe ſort of places often, vvhich is a prudence that I dare ſay you approve as much as myſelf, I vvould vviſh to have the moſt made of them at once; […]" — 1796, [Frances Burney], “A Family Breakfast”, in Camilla: Or, A Picture of Youth. […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Payne, […]; and T[homas] Cadell Jun. and W[illiam] Davies (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) […], →OCLC, book II, pages 187–188:

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