caveat

noun

ca·​ve·​at ˈka-vē-ˌät 

-ˌat, 

ˈkä-vē-ˌät 

ˈkā-vē-ˌat

1

a

: an explanation or warning that should be remembered when evaluating, interpreting, or doing something

This was an informal survey … so let's proceed with that caveat in mind.

—John E. Dunn

b

: a warning not to engage in certain acts or practices

There is an important caveat against taking the data at face value.

—nasdaq.com

The caveat is that you must use this knowledge for good, not evil, and never for personal gain.

—Dutch Mandel

c

: an explanation to prevent misinterpretation

a caveat about the way a word is used

2

: a notice to a judicial officer to (see suspend sense 3) a proceeding until the party filing it has an opportunity to be heard

a caveat entered to the probate court to stop the proving of a will

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 that 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 the phrase caveat lector; translated as "let the reader beware," it's 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, by the way (no salt needed), is also a descendant of cavēre.

Examples of caveat in a Sentence

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. 2000

We'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 1999

But 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 Web

The three-time Olympic gold medalist celebrated accomplishing the feat, though there was a small caveat. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

With that important caveat, let’s dig into the 20 Premier League teams! — Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Kansas’ new term sheet comes with some important caveats—and at least one significant point of confusion. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Consider the way Angel, the show, deals with Buffy’s death—with the caveat that this moment coincides with the two shows’ debuts on different and competing networks, so there’s some incentive to get past it quickly. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, let him beware, from cavēre — more at hear

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing caveat

• caveat emptor

Rhymes for caveat

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• doormat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat

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Legal Definition

caveat

noun

ca·​ve·​at ˈka-vē-ˌät, -ˌat; ˈkä-vē-ˌät, ˈkā-vē-ˌat 

1

a

: a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices

b

: an explanation to prevent a misinterpretation

2

: a notice to a court or judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition can be heard

a caveat entered in the probate court to stop the proving of the will

caveat verb

Etymology

Latin, may he/she beware