: a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices
a caveat against unfair practices
b
: an explanation to prevent misinterpretation
c
: a modifying or cautionary detail to be considered when evaluating, interpreting, or doing something
The driving instructor gave his students this caveat: if you are driving under the speed limit, stay in the far right lane.
2
: a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition has a hearing
Did you know?
You may be familiar with the old saying caveat emptor, nowadays loosely translated as "let the buyer beware." In the 16th century, this adage was imparted as a safeguard for the seller: allow the buyer to examine the item (for example, a horse) before the sale is completed, so the seller can't be blamed if the item turns out to be unsatisfactory. Caveat in Latin means "let him beware" and comes from the verb cavēre, meaning "to be on guard." Perhaps you've also heard caveat lector: "let the reader beware," a warning to take what one reads with a grain of salt. English retained caveat itself as a noun for something that serves to warn, explain, or caution. The word caution is another descendant of cavēre.
Example Sentences
Sound great? There's just one caveat: Knowledge about how genes work is still in the scientific Stone Age. Andrea Knox, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2000We'll add a caveat of our own for parents: After your kids walk through 17,500 gal. of swirling water, they're not going to be satisfied running through the lawn sprinkler. Jim Wilson, Popular Mechanics, July 1999But the youthquake in the new economy comes with a caveat that also may begin applying to politics. If you're inexperienced and you want a big job, you'd better be smart as hell. Jonathan Alter, Newsweek, 22 Nov. 1999… a cluster bomb can destroy objects over a wider area, with the important caveat that it is effective only if the bomblets have sufficient destructive power on their own. Norman Friedman, Desert Victory, 1991 His investment advice comes with a caveat: that the stock market is impossible to predict with absolute accuracy.
Recent Examples on the WebCoach Billy Napier celebrated the recognition, but with a caveat. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 With the caveat that, of course, this was a blowout victory against a Football Championship Subdivision team, Miami got plenty of its young players in the game. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 Sep. 2022 Shearer and Teplin are proponents of trunk organizers to keep things tidy, but with a caveat. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2022 No other artist who spent her recording career in the Washington area has enjoyed that level of success, with the caveat that Cassidy did not live to see it, the Capital Gazette reports. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2022 In the order, Swartzle said the injunction applies to claimants with timely protests and appeals — with a caveat. Adrienne Roberts, Detroit Free Press, 11 Aug. 2022 The scientific proof of ghosts comes with a caveat—many people now seek to kill themselves. Jeff Ewing, Forbes, 17 June 2022 When kicking against no pressure during that session -- with the caveat that no officials were signaling made and missed kicks-- York appeared to miss only once from 61 yards. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 21 Aug. 2022 Reports that heist comedy prequel was in the works surfaced in May, with the caveat that the prequel is in active development at Warner Bros. and has not yet been greenlit. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 See More