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 is that gold and the stocks, despite rebounding from their lows, could return to those levels as the geopolitical issue produces conflicting headlines.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

They got approval to purchase with one caveat: a promise to stay for at least six months a year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

She was a grown woman with seven children, but this was the first time in her life that she was, without question or caveat, the one in charge.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• admonition