vigilance
C1Formal; common in academic, security, medical, and managerial contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties; watchfulness.
A sustained, attentive state of alertness, often implying duty, responsibility, or moral watchfulness against threats, errors, or decay.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies proactive, sustained attention, not momentary alertness. Often collocates with abstract nouns (vigilance against corruption) and institutional/collective subjects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more frequent in UK English in formal/official contexts (e.g., public health warnings).
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of duty, professionalism, and often a slightly heightened or serious context.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; common in news, reports, and formal writing in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
vigilance against [threat]vigilance in [activity/role]vigilance over [domain]vigilance by [agent]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
- “Relax one's vigilance.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Market vigilance is essential to anticipate competitor moves.
Academic
The study measured the effects of sleep deprivation on sustained vigilance.
Everyday
You need to exercise vigilance when walking alone at night.
Technical
The system's automated vigilance monitors network intrusion attempts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The vigilance committee issued a new advisory.
- She maintained a vigilance posture throughout the ordeal.
American English
- The vigilance committee issued a new advisory.
- She maintained a vigilant posture throughout the ordeal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Security guards must show constant vigilance.
- The police asked for public vigilance after the robbery.
- Financial regulators increased their vigilance against fraud.
- Parents should maintain vigilance over their children's online activity.
- The success of the ceasefire depended on the unwavering vigilance of the peacekeeping force.
- Clinical vigilance is paramount to detect early signs of patient deterioration.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a vigilant (watchful) guard on vigilance duty.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIGILANCE IS A GUARD / SHIELD (protecting against threats).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'бдительность' – correct but very formal; 'vigilance' is less common in casual speech than 'внимательность' (attention/attentiveness).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'vigilance' for short-term attention (e.g., 'Pay vigilance to this' – incorrect). Overusing in informal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
Which context is LEAST typical for the word 'vigilance'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, but it extends to careful attention to prevent errors, moral failings, or decay (e.g., vigilance against complacency).
It typically implies a sustained or repeated state, not a momentary one. For a short alert, 'alertness' is more fitting.
Vigilance is a focused, active watchfulness for specific threats. Awareness is a broader, more general state of consciousness or knowledge.
It's an intensified, often pathological or stress-induced form of vigilance, common in clinical psychology contexts.
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