adjective B2 Upper-Intermediate

unwise

uhn-WYZ

Unwise (adjective) means not wise; showing poor judgment. Example: “It would be unwise to invest your entire savings in one stock.”

adjective

Not wise; showing poor judgment.

"It would be unwise to invest your entire savings in one stock."

"His unwise decision cost him the promotion."

How to use unwise

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes a decision or action that shows a lack of good judgment.

Common pairings

unwise decision it would be unwise to

unwiser comparative, unwisest superlative

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It would be _____ to invest your entire savings in one stock.

From Old English unwīs, from un- (\"not\") plus wise.

Origin: Old English

wise

wise intelligent ignorant foolish sensible sage baka expedient

rise wise vise Lise arise noise raise anise guise poise Elise Boise

What does “unwise” mean?

The word “unwise” means not wise; showing poor judgment. In plain terms, describes a decision or action that shows a lack of good judgment.

How do you pronounce “unwise”?

“Unwise” is pronounced uhn-WYZ (/ʌnˈwaɪz/ in IPA).

How do you use “unwise” in a sentence?

Here is “unwise” used in a sentence: “It would be unwise to invest your entire savings in one stock.”

What is the opposite of “unwise”?

The opposite of “unwise” — its antonyms — is wise.

What part of speech is “unwise”?

“Unwise” is an adjective.

Where does the word “unwise” come from?

The word “unwise” comes from Old English. From Old English unwīs, from un- (\"not\") plus wise.

Vocabulary lists that include unwise:

wise intelligent ignorant foolish sensible sage baka expedient