admonition

noun

ad·​mo·​ni·​tion ˌad-mə-ˈni-shən 

1

: gentle or friendly reproof

remembered the admonition to keep it simple

2

: counsel or warning against fault or oversight

the principal's admonition against bullying

Synonyms

• adjuration
• admonishment
• advice
• counsel
• guidance
• input

Examples of admonition in a Sentence

an admonition to be careful

He offered words of advice and admonition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Arnold Toynbee reminds us of the stakes with his admonition from many years ago that civilizations die by suicide, not by murder. —Paul Laudicina, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

There is wisdom in that admonition; the rise and fall of great powers often begins with flawed self-diagnosis. —Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025

Still, the general admonition against stocks for retirees doesn’t fit all sizes. —Russ Wiles, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

Our planet is record-breakingly hot because of a global failure to heed those admonitions. —Heather Hansman, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ammonicioun, admonicioun, borrowed from Anglo-French amonicion, borrowed from Latin admonitiōn-, admonitiō, from admoni- (variant stem of admonēre "to admonish") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for admonition

• abolition
• acquisition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition
• deposition

Kids Definition

admonition

noun

ad·​mo·​ni·​tion ˌad-mə-ˈnish-ən 

: a gentle or friendly criticism or warning