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Meaning & use

prudent decision

phrase·Academicformal

Last updated

UK/ˌpruːdənt dɪˈsɪʒən/
US/ˌpruːdənt dɪˈsɪʒən/

Meanings

  1. phrasecountableformal

    a choice made after careful thought about risks and future results, showing good judgment.

    Grammar: It is a noun phrase; use 'a prudent decision' or 'prudent decisions'.

    Patterns

    • make a prudent decision
    • a prudent decision to do something
    • it was a prudent decision

    Saving part of her salary every month was a prudent decision.

    The board made a prudent decision to delay the launch until testing was complete.

    Buying insurance before the trip turned out to be a prudent decision.

  2. phrasecountablebusinessfinance

    a judgment in business or finance that avoids unnecessary risk and protects money or resources.

    Grammar: Common in business writing: 'a financially prudent decision'.

    Patterns

    • a financially prudent decision
    • a prudent financial decision
    • make a prudent decision about something

    Cutting unnecessary costs was a financially prudent decision.

    Investors praised the company for making a prudent decision during the downturn.

    It would be a prudent decision to review the budget before signing the contract.

Common combinations

make a prudent decision
We need to make a prudent decision about the new office.
a prudent decision to
It was a prudent decision to wait for more information.
financially prudent decision
Paying off the loan early was a financially prudent decision.
a prudent choice
Choosing the cheaper plan was a prudent choice for a small business.

Synonyms and how they differ

wise decision
'Wise' focuses on good judgment and experience; 'prudent' adds the idea of avoiding risk and planning ahead.
sensible decision
'Sensible' is more everyday and practical; 'prudent' sounds more formal and careful about the future.
sound decision
'Sound' means reliable and well-founded; 'prudent' stresses caution and foresight.

Opposites

reckless decisionfoolish decision

Word family

prudence noun
the quality of being careful and sensible about risks.
prudently adverb
in a careful, sensible way: 'She acted prudently.'
prudential adjective
formal, relating to careful judgment, especially in finance.
imprudent adjective
not careful or sensible: 'an imprudent investment'.

Commonly confused: prudent decision or prudish?

prudent decision vs prudish

'Prudish' means easily shocked by matters of sex or nudity; it is not related in meaning to 'prudent'.

Practice

Complete the sentence: Waiting for the test results before buying the machine was a ___ decision.

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