caveat

[kav-ee-aht, -at, kah-vee-, key-]

noun

1. a warning or caution.

   Before proceeding with the investment, he was given a caveat about potential risks and volatility in the stock market.

2. Law.,  a legal notice to a court or public officer to suspend a certain proceeding until the notifier is given a hearing.

   a caveat filed against the probate of a will.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to give a warning or caution (about information being presented).

   The authors of the paper caveated their findings with a reminder that further research would be necessary.

   Rather than hedging and caveating, I'll just say what I think.

caveat

/ ˈkeɪvɪˌæt, ˈkæv- /

noun

1. law a formal notice requesting the court or officer to refrain from taking some specified action without giving prior notice to the person lodging the caveat

2. a warning; caution

Other Word Forms

• caveated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caveat¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin: “let him beware,” 3rd-person singular present subjunctive of cavēre “to take care”; caution

Word History and Origins

Origin of caveat¹

C16: from Latin, literally: let him beware

Example Sentences

It instead ruled that dogs must be caught, vaccinated, sterilised and returned to their neighbourhood - but with a caveat that aggressive dogs and those carrying rabies should be moved to shelters.

From BBC

The new study, Prof Misra says, now adds a more troubling caveat - a possible link to higher cardiovascular risk, at least in certain groups.

From BBC

But I arrive at that conclusion with two caveats.

From Salon

There is one caveat, however — Brady must attend those meetings remotely.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, Matías said, she agreed to return voluntarily to Mexico, but with a caveat: She had to be accompanied by her two youngest daughters and her grandson.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• admonition