Avoidable means something that can be prevented or kept from happening if you take the right actions. An avoidable mistake is one you could have prevented by being more careful, like forgetting to pack your lunch because you rushed out the door without checking your backpack.

When doctors say an illness is avoidable, they mean you can reduce your risk by making good choices: eating healthy foods, exercising, or washing your hands regularly. When a teacher reviews common errors on a test, she's often pointing out avoidable mistakes that students can prevent by reading questions more carefully or double-checking their work.

The opposite is unavoidable, which describes things you truly cannot prevent no matter how careful you are. Getting caught in an unexpected rainstorm on your walk home might be unavoidable, but getting soaked because you left your umbrella at home when the forecast predicted rain was avoidable.

Understanding what's avoidable helps you take responsibility for the things you can control. When something goes wrong, asking yourself “Was this avoidable?” helps you learn from the experience and make better decisions next time.