precaution

noun

pre·​cau·​tion pri-ˈkȯ-shən 

1

: care taken in advance : foresight

warned of the need for precaution

2

: a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good : safeguard

take the necessary precautions

precautionary

pri-ˈkȯ-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

Synonyms of precaution

• safeguard
• preventive
• protection
• caution

Examples of precaution in a Sentence

Be sure to follow the usual safety precautions when cooking outdoors.

When driving, she always wears her seatbelt as a precaution.

Every home owner should take precautions against fire.

She took the precaution of packing extra medicine for the trip.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those precautions, though, were meant to protect the environment from passengers, rather than the other way around. —Corey Williams, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026

The quarantine unit staff are treating the passengers with full airborne precautions—that means wearing high-level personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators, gowns and eye protection, Santarpia says. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 13 May 2026

As a precaution, all field operations at the company's Zoo Bay property have been paused since the incident, while the investigation is underway. —Ahmad Mukhtar, CBS News, 13 May 2026

On Tuesday, May 12, Kornfeld appeared on CNN's Erin Burnett OutFront to discuss his condition and the precautions being taken with his quarantine. —Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French précaution, from Late Latin praecaution-, praecautio, from Latin praecavēre to guard against, from prae- + cavēre to be on one's guard — more at hear

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precaution

• laplacian
• poblacion
• caution
• washin

Kids Definition

precaution

noun

pre·​cau·​tion pri-ˈkȯ-shən 

1

: care taken in advance : foresight

2

: a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or to bring about a good result

take precautions against fire

precautionary

-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective