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- Dictionarycircumspection/ˌsəːkəmˈspɛkʃn/
noun
- 1. the quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence: "circumspection is required in the day-to-day exercise of administrative powers"
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noun [ U ] formal uk / ˌsɜː.kəmˈspek.ʃ ə n / us / ˌsɝː.kəmˈspek.ʃ ə n / Add to word list. the quality of being careful not to take risks: This is a very sensitive case requiring extreme circumspection. See. circumspect. Fewer examples. He usually leans towards circumspection.
: careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent. diplomacy required a circumspect response. They are circumspect in all their business dealings. circumspection. ˌsər-kəm-ˈspek-shən. noun. circumspectly. ˈsər-kəm-ˌspek (t)-lē. adverb. Did you know?
Circumspection definition: circumspect observation or action; caution; prudence. See examples of CIRCUMSPECTION used in a sentence.
Circumspection is the quality of being cautious and prudent. If you don't immediately get excited about a party invitation, instead taking some time to consider whether you want to go, that's your circumspection in action.
adjective. formal uk / ˈsɜː.kəm.spekt / us / ˈsɝː.kəm.spekt / Add to word list. careful not to take risks: Officials were circumspect about saying what the talks had achieved. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Cautious and vigilant. abundance. an abundance of caution idiom. askance. attentively. diligent about something/doing something.
Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent. [Middle English, from Latin circumspectus, past participle of circumspicere, to take heed : circum-, circum- + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots.] cir′cum·spec′tion (-spĕk′shən) n. cir′cum·spect′ly adv.
adjective. watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent: circumspect behavior. Synonyms: guarded, vigilant, careful. Antonyms: indiscreet, careless. well-considered: circumspect ambition. / ˈsɜːkəmˌspɛkt / adjective. cautious, prudent, or discreet.
noun. circumspective (ˌcircumˈspective) adjective. circumspectly (ˈcircumˌspectly) adverb. Word origin. C15: from Latin circumspectus, from circum- + specere to look. circumspect in American English. (ˈsɜrkəmˌspɛkt ) adjective. careful to consider all related circumstances before acting, judging, or deciding; cautious; careful.
Definition of circumspection noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
If you are circumspect, you think carefully before doing or saying anything. A good quality in someone entrusted with responsibility, though sometimes boring in a friend. The word circumspect was borrowed from Latin circumspectus, from circumspicere, "to be cautious."
