vigilance

Meaning

1. 1noununcountable

   The habit of staying watchful over a period of time so that you notice danger or trouble early.

   Grammar: Has no plural and no article in general use: vigilance is needed.

   Patterns

   • vigilance against something
   • vigilance over something

   Constant vigilance is needed to keep children safe near the pool.

   The bank urged customers to show vigilance against email scams.

   Thanks to the guard's vigilance, the fire was spotted within minutes.

Common combinations

constant vigilance

Online security requires constant vigilance.

remain vigilant

Officials asked residents to remain vigilant during the storm season.

vigilance against

Vigilance against fraud saved the company thousands.

relax your vigilance

The sailors never relaxed their vigilance in the fog.

price of vigilance

Safety is the price of vigilance, the trainer told the crew.

Synonyms and how they differ

alertness

Alertness can describe a brief moment of being awake and ready, while vigilance suggests keeping watch for a long time.

watchfulness

Watchfulness is plainer and more everyday, while vigilance sounds more serious and is often tied to danger.

caution

Caution is about avoiding risk by taking care, whereas vigilance is about actively looking out for it.

Opposites

Word family

vigilant adjective

carefully watching for danger

vigilantly adverb

in a watchful way

vigilante noun

a person who punishes suspected criminals without legal authority

Commonly confused: vigilance or vigilante?

Practice

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