imprudence

noun

1. (uncountable, usually)The quality or state of being imprudent; lack of prudence, caution, discretion or circumspection.

   “[Hamilton were to have said:] nothing but a permanent body can check the imprudence of democracy.”

2. (countable, usually)An imprudent act.

   “Ah: my dear—Madam there is the great mistake—'tis this very conscious Innocence that is of the greatest Prejudice to you—what is it makes you negligent of Forms and careless of the world's opinion—why the consciousness of your Innocence—what makes you thoughtless in your Conduct and apt to run into a thousand little imprudences—”

   “At about the age of twenty-three, to crown his other imprudences, he married, without improving his reduced circumstances thereby.”

   “Yes, for six months he threw all his medicines in the fire, and designedly committed all sorts of imprudences.”

   “This man finally fell a victim to his diplomacies, perhaps also to his imprudences.”

   “He [Timothy Forsyte] had never committed the imprudence of marrying or encumbering himself in any way with children.”