circumspection C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˌsɚkəmˈspɛkʃən/ UK /ˌsɜːkəmˈspɛkʃən/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun wariness and prudence; careful consideration of consequences He answered the reporter's questions with practiced circumspection. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · wariness and prudence;... cautionprudencewarinesscarediscretionvigilance ↔ Opposites rashnessrecklessnesscarelessness Word family Related forms circumspectinspectprospect Etymology AI details From Latin circumspectio ('a looking around, caution'), from circumspicere ('to look around'), from circum ('around') + specere ('to look'). circum Latin specere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # circumspection **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˌsɚkəmˈspɛkʃən/ **IPA (UK):** /ˌsɜːkəmˈspɛkʃən/ ## Meanings 1. wariness and prudence; careful consideration of consequences ## Examples - He answered the reporter's questions with practiced circumspection. ## Synonyms - caution - prudence - wariness - care - discretion - vigilance ## Antonyms - rashness - recklessness - carelessness ## Related Forms - circumspect - inspect - prospect ## Roots and Affixes - Root: circum - Root: specere ## Etymology From Latin circumspectio ('a looking around, caution'), from circumspicere ('to look around'), from circum ('around') + specere ('to look'). ## AI Etymology Circumspection is a noun meaning "wariness and prudence; careful consideration of consequences". Historically, it is from Latin circumspectio ('a looking around, caution'), from circumspicere ('to look around'), from circum ('around') + specere ('to look'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: circumspection is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Latin circum with Latin specere. Close English family members include circumspect, inspect, and prospect. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown