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English
Etymology
From Middle English unwis, from Old English unwīs (“unwise, foolish, ignorant, uninformed, insane”), equivalent to un- + wise. Cognate with Dutch onwijs (“unwise”), German unweise (“unwise”), Danish uvis (“unwise”), Swedish ovis (“unwise”), Icelandic óvís (“unwise”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
unwise (comparative unwiser, superlative unwisest)
- Not wise; lacking wisdom
- Synonyms: injudicious, indiscreet, foolish, imprudent, (insult) mad
unwise man unwise kings unwise measures
1962 December, “A new Pullman era?”, in Modern Railways, page 362:If the kind of network we envisage is to be established, it would be unwise to begin any of its services hurriedly with older stock, which, however admirable in its day, now has an air of faded Edwardian splendour that is out of joint with the times.
2025 May 29, Kalyeena Makortoff, “US federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 October 2026:Their use was “impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law][sic] does not allow it”, the decision explained.
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