foresight

UK: /ˈfɔː^rsaɪt/ US: /ˈfɔrˌsaɪt/ ,(fôr′sīt′, fōr′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fore•sight /ˈfɔrˌsaɪt/   n. [uncountable]

1. care or provision for the future:
   Through lack of foresight I had run out of money.
2. the act or power of foreseeing;
   knowledge or insight of the future;
   foreknowledge.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fore•sight  (fôr′sīt′, fōr′-), n. 

1. care or provision for the future;
   provident care;
   prudence.
2. the act or power of foreseeing;
   prevision;
   prescience.
3. an act of looking forward.
4. knowledge or insight gained by or as by looking forward;
   a view of the future.
5. [Survey.]
   • Surveying a sight or reading taken on a forward point.
   • Surveying (in leveling) a rod reading on a point the elevation of which is to be determined.

• Middle English forsight. See fore-, sight 1250–1300

fore′sight′ed, adj. 
fore′sight′ed•ly, adv. 
fore′sight′ed•ly, adv. 
fore′sight′ed•ness, n. 
fore′sight′ful, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See prudence. 
• 4. foreknowledge.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

foresight / ˈfɔːˌsaɪt/ noun

1. provision for or insight into future problems, needs, etc
2. the act or ability of foreseeing
3. the act of looking forward
4. a reading taken looking forwards to a new station, esp in levelling from a point of known elevation to a point the elevation of which is to be determined
5. the front sight on a firearm

ˌforeˈsighted adjective

ˌforeˈsightedly adverb

ˌforeˈsightedness noun