What does preciousness mean?
Preciousness is the quality of something being deeply valued, loved, or treated as irreplaceable. It commonly refers to people, objects, experiences, or ideas whose significance cannot easily be measured in practical or monetary terms: one may speak of the preciousness of life, friendship, memory, or a rare cultural object. The noun emphasizes emotional value and suggests that something should be protected or cherished. Less commonly, preciousness means excessive concern or fussiness about something considered delicate or important, often with the implication that the concern is greater than the circumstances justify. This secondary use can sound mildly critical. In its dominant sense, preciousness is especially useful when describing the intangible importance of something, distinguishing genuine human or historical value from mere material price.
nounThe quality of being highly valued, loved, or irreplaceable. In a less common sense, it means excessive care or concern about something regarded as precious.
- The quality of being highly valued, loved, or irreplaceable.
- Excessive concern or fussiness about something regarded as precious.
"The preciousness of family memories cannot be measured in material terms."
"The preciousness of the manuscript was clear from the care with which it was handled."
"His constant concern about the arrangement of the room began to seem like preciousness."
The plural is grammatically regular but rarely needed in ordinary writing.
"The novel explores the different preciousnesses of memory, place, and family."
Preciousness can mean that something is deeply valued—or that it is being handled so delicately that nobody is allowed to enjoy it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does preciousness come from?
Preciousness is an English noun formed in the Middle English period from precious and the suffix -ness. Its older element, precious, came through Middle French precieux from Latin pretiosus, meaning “valuable” or “of great value.” That adjective belongs to the same Latin family as price and prize, which derive from Latin pretium, meaning “value” or “price.”
Related word forms
How preciousness is actually used
The primary sense is neutral and often carries emotional warmth. The secondary sense, meaning excessive concern or fastidiousness, is less common and generally has a mildly critical or disapproving tone.