Circumspection: Definition & Meaning for the SAT
⚡️ CIRCUMSPECTION most nearly means: (A) circular reasoning; (B) avoiding responsibility; (C) careful consideration; (D) complete understanding. 👉 Answer + examples + more inside!
📣 TL;DR: Circumspection means the quality of being cautious and unwilling to take risks. Mnemonic to help remember: CIRCUM (around, like circle) + SPECT (look, like inspect) = looking around carefully before acting = CIRCUMSPECTION. Read more on Mike’s entry for CIRCUMSPECT.
ℹ️ Part of Speech of Circumspection
circumspection is a NOUN.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Circumspection
circumspection is pronounced /ˌsɜr.kəm.ˈspɛk.ʃən/ or sir-kum-SPEK-shun.
📚️ Definition of Circumspection
The quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; careful consideration of all circumstances and possible consequences before acting or making a decision. Example: evaluate an offer with great circumspection.
📰 Examples of Circumspection
Here are some examples of the word circumspection:
The CFO's circumspection helped the company save $ 1.2 million when she decided to look more deeply into the merger.
After losing his life savings to pig-butchering scam, Marcus approached all investment opportunities with extreme circumspection. (And went back to flipping burgers for a living!)
The surgeon's circumspection was evident as she reviewed the patient's medical history repeatedly before beginning the complex procedure.
✅ Quiz answer
Answer to the question above:
C, careful consideration. Explanations: A doesn't work; circular reasoning would be a logical fallacy, not circumspection. B could describe avoidance or shirking, but not circumspection. D doesn't fit; complete understanding would be comprehension or mastery, not the cautious approach that circumspection implies.