Waakzame

Waakzame is a Dutch adjective meaning vigilant or watchful. It is the attributive inflected form of waakzaam used before a noun, as in de waakzame burger or een waakzame medewerker. The term is widely used in formal language, media reporting, and safety-related contexts to describe people, groups, or systems that demonstrate alertness.

Etymology and grammar: Waakzame derives from waakzaam, with the usual Dutch attributive ending -e applied before a noun. The root waak- relates to waking, guarding or staying alert, and the suffix -zaam conveys a quality or characteristic. In practice, waakzame can appear in nominal phrases describing intentional vigilance by individuals or organizations.

Usage and context: Waakzame is commonly found in discussions of security, public safety, health surveillance, and organizational culture. It often pairs with agents, populations, institutions, or policies, for example, een waakzame dienst, een waakzame samenleving, or een waakzame houding. The related noun waakzaamheid denotes the state or quality of being vigilant. Comparative and superlative forms exist as waakzamer and waakzaamst to express higher degrees of vigilance.

Examples in usage: a waakzame politieagent (a vigilant police officer); een waakzame aanpak (a vigilant approach); waakzaamheid as a characteristic valued in public service. The term is neutral in tone and can appear in news reporting, policy documents, and academic writing when describing heightened alertness or careful monitoring.

See also: waakzaamheid, waakzaam, vigilance, Dutch adjectives inflection.