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

Explanation

A caveat is a warning. When someone adds a caveat to something they’re telling you to beware — maybe what they’re telling you comes with certain conditions or maybe there’s something dangerous lurking. When your new friend gives you directions to her house, and then says, “The caveat is that when it snows the driveway turns into an ice rink,” she's warning you that your travels could be dangerous. Caveat is also a legal term for when a lawyer asks for a break in proceedings. If a lawyer issues a caveat, she's filing a formal notice to suspend a trial until her client gets a hearing.

Example Sentences

But there’s a big caveat: “Decreases only last as long as the situation remains positive. Any new escalations or rhetoric can quickly reverse the expected drops,” De Haan told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Surprisingly, the answer is no — with an “almost” caveat.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

However, one big caveat is that this strategy isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and in momentum-driven markets—like the one that has been dominant in recent years—it’s actually a headwind.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

One caveat right off the bat: Although AI search is growing fast, many people are still using traditional search engines and clicking on links.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Clara had finally relented and let Molly get social media a couple of years ago, with the caveat that it was exclusively professional accounts for the theater.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• admonition