WordGarden.iopreciseness
C1Pronunciation
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US
Meanings
Noun
the quality of being exact, clearly defined, or free from vagueness
Beyond the definition
Preciseness is the quality of being exact and careful in detail. It is used when something needs to be stated, measured, or done in a very clear and correct way. Think of a watchmaker fitting tiny gears, or a technical illustrator drawing a machine part. In both cases, small details matter. The word often appears in contexts like science, engineering, writing, and design, where being vague can cause mistakes. It is close in meaning to accuracy and exactness, though "precision" is more common in everyday English.
Preciseness is the quality of being exact, accurate, and careful in detail. When someone values preciseness, they want words, measurements, actions, or designs to be as clear and correct as possible. The idea is not just being generally right, but being right in a way that leaves little room for confusion.
Think about building a complex machine such as an engine. Each part must be made with great preciseness, because even a tiny difference could cause problems. Or consider legal language: contracts use exact wording so that people do not misunderstand the terms. Preciseness matters in science, engineering, mathematics, law, and many kinds of technical work.
However, preciseness does not always mean something long or complicated. A short instruction can still show preciseness if it is clear, exact, and easy to follow. In that sense, the word is also connected to careful expression.
You might say a scientist showed remarkable preciseness in measurement, or that an architect is known for the preciseness of a design. A lack of preciseness can lead to mistakes, confusion, or poor results, such as unclear directions that send someone the wrong way. The word is correct English, though "precision" is often the more natural choice in modern usage.
Examples
- 1
Engineering measurements
The engineer checked the preciseness of the measurements before approving the design.
- Usage
precision is more common in everyday English; preciseness sounds a little formal
- 2
Instructions
The preciseness of her instructions made the task easy to follow.
- 3
Work report
His report had a preciseness that impressed the whole team.
- 4
Word choice
She chose each word with great preciseness, so there was no room for confusion.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- specificity
- meticulousness
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- with great preciseness
- mathematical preciseness
- preciseness of language
Word family
Explore
- measurement error
- clarity
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- precisenessnoun