preparedness
noun
pre·pared·ness
pri-ˈper-əd-nəs 
also
-ˈperd-nəs
: the quality or state of being prepared
especially
: a state of adequate preparation in case of war
Examples of preparedness in a Sentence
The military is in a state of preparedness.
Recent Examples on the Web
The district will not move to e-learning, which is only allowed for severe weather, but will continue to collaborate with the city and other partners on emergency preparedness and response, the news release says.
—
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The agency has been planning for the Big Game the last two years, leading emergency preparedness efforts, evaluating best practices at other Super Bowls and developing a new Emergency Security Operations Center to keep riders safe.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
How did being around the facility help your preparedness for a potential return?
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
But Suen encourages residents in flood-prone areas to still have an emergency preparedness kit ready, along with knowing their flood risk and looking at FEMA floodplain maps for their families.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Preparedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preparedness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
preparedness
noun
pre·pared·ness
pri-ˈpar-əd-nəs
-ˈper-
also -ˈpa(ə)rd-nəs
or -ˈpe(ə)rd-
: the quality or state of being prepared
especially
: a state of readiness for war
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