noun
vigilance
VIJ-uh-luhns/ˈvɪdʒɪləns/
Careful attention to possible danger or trouble.
The ranger's vigilance keeps her alert to possible danger in the woodland.
Etymology
Latin vigilantia combines the ideas of wakefulness and attentive watching. Vigilance applies that alertness to discovering or guarding against danger, rather than simply remaining awake.
In context
care and vigilance with a very common understanding May preserve a man's goods from thieves
More examples
- Avoiding online scams requires constant vigilance.
- The nurse's vigilance helped catch the infection early.
- Dry conditions call for extra vigilance against wildfires.
Forms
vigilant adjective — Carefully watching for danger or trouble.
vigilantly adverb — With careful attention to possible danger.
Similar words
- alertness
- Emphasizes readiness to notice and react quickly to changes.
- watchfulness
- Emphasizes sustained observation, not necessarily concern about possible danger.