caveat

American  

[kav-ee-aht, -at, kah-vee-, key-] / ˈkæv iˌɑt, -ˌæt, ˈkɑ vi-, keɪ- /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• caveated adjective

Etymology

Origin of caveat

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

Example Sentences

First a caveat: These awards mean nothing in relation to the Oscars.

From Los Angeles Times

He said HLN accepts there are some caveats that will apply to MI5 and the intelligence services, as the prime minister himself has said.

From BBC

There is now a wide range of publicly available prices that allow consumers to pick and choose, with the caveat that they are paying out of pocket.

From MarketWatch

He said too, with the caveat that it wasn't a done deal, that a peace deal in Ukraine felt more likely now than at any point since Russia's full-scale invasion.

From BBC

No matter how you opt to sell, the usual caveat of getting different price quotes applies — don’t presume the first offer is the best.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• admonition