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.

---

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

---

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

One caveat that investors should be aware of: April marks the end of the six-month period that is believed to have positive seasonality for stocks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Another caveat: If your calcium score is zero, it doesn’t mean you have no risk for developing heart disease.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Hosseini doesn’t expect a mass exodus to Dell following the latest round of headlines, and any business that does change hands will come with the same caveat.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

This latter caveat rewidened the gap that the earlier statement had seemed to close.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• admonition