precaution

American  

[pri-kaw-shuhn] / prɪˈkɔ ʃən /

noun

precautions plural

1. a measure taken in advance to avert possible evil or to secure good results.

2. caution employed beforehand; prudent foresight.

   Synonyms:

   circumspection, prudence, forethought

---

verb (used with object)

1. to forewarn; put on guard.

precaution British  

/ prɪˈkɔːʃən /

noun

1. an action taken to avoid a dangerous or undesirable event

2. caution practised beforehand; circumspection

---

Usage

What does precaution mean? A precaution is an action taken in advance to prevent something negative from happening or to lessen the impact of the negative thing if it does happen. This sense of precaution is often used with the verb take, as in take precautions or take every precaution. Precaution can also refer to caution in advance of something (which leads one to take such precautions). It can also be used as a verb meaning to warn. However, this is uncommon. The verb caution is more commonly used to mean this. Precaution has two adjective forms: precautious, meaning being careful by actively preparing to avoid something negative, and precautionary, which is used to describe things done as a precaution, as in precautionary measures. Example: Officials said they have taken every available precaution to secure the city in advance of the storm.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precautionary
  adjective
• precautious
  adjective
• unprecautioned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• precautions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of precaution

First recorded in 1595–1605, precaution is from the Late Latin word praecautiōn- (stem of praecautiō ). See pre-, caution

Explanation

A precaution is a careful action you make in advance. You might want to take the precaution of bringing lots of water and sunblock if you're going on a desert hike. Precaution means exactly what it sounds like. The prefix pre- means before, and caution means carefulness in the face of danger. People use glasses when they're on a computer as a precaution because there are links to long hours on a computer and vision damage. A fire drill is a precaution so that you know what to do in case of a real fire. Someone who is always careful exhibits precaution.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

precaution precautions

Reacting to the forecast, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "I ask for understanding and call on all citizens in all the country to exercise extreme caution and take every possible precaution."

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Reacting to the forecast, Sanchez said: "I ask for understanding and call on all citizens in all the country to exercise extreme caution and take every possible precaution."

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

The minister revealed that nine out of 10 fires "are human-caused and most arise from carelessness: a cigarette butt, a barbecue, work carried out without precaution".

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

“So far, no evidence has been found to indicate that it originated here, yet we are taking every precaution in case that turns out to be the case,” Kershenobich said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

That includes interviews with the four or five laboratory workers who cared for the animals, which have since been destroyed as a precaution, and any other people who were near the monkeys.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Extra precautions around testing are important, he continued, because inconsistencies risk "making the consumer really wary that we don't have anybody to trust".

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Americans may also want to consider other precautions, like not buying bagged lettuce or salad kits.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

In the lawsuit, Dickey’s parents alleged that Bucknell athletic trainers and coaches knew their son had sickle cell trait and failed to take steps to ensure precautions were in place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Continued pandemic precautions led to another cancellation in 2021, though the Noujaim-Gandhi narrative kicks off before that announcement has officially been made.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

After the mandatory training sessions on the use of the equipment and safety precautions, the teacher told the class he wanted them to create something on their own.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

Related Words

• care
• caution
• insurance
• protection
• provision
• safeguard
• safety measure