Origin: Latin prefix pre-
Preparedness has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
"putting them in readiness"
"their preparation was more than adequate"
The state of being prepared.
"The community's high level of preparedness ensured that everyone was ready to evacuate quickly when the hurricane warning was issued."
In plain English: Preparedness is being ready for something bad to happen so you can deal with it easily when it does.
"The community's preparedness for hurricanes was shown when they stocked supplies and practiced evacuation drills before the storm arrived."
This word is formed by adding the suffix "-ness" to "prepared," creating a term that describes the state of being ready. It entered English as a straightforward combination of these two familiar elements.