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 of admonition

• advice

Examples of admonition in a Sentence

an admonition to be careful

He offered words of advice and admonition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet admonition and derision are far from being the only reactions. —Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025

The admonitions of the first generation of revolutionaries carried the weight of superiors addressing subordinates. —Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025

The recording that was posted to YouTube included an admonition that no recording was allowed, the judge wrote in the 10-page order. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025

Schneider seemed to feel the moment was more of a testament to Judge’s prowess rather than an admonition of the pitcher or decision. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 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