# caution

/ˈkɑʃən/ (US) · /kˈɔːʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/caution
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. carefulness

noun · CEFR B2

care taken to avoid danger, risk, or mistakes.

For teachers: the quality of being careful to avoid potential hazards or errors; prudence.

- You should proceed with caution when driving on these icy roads.
- The investigators exercised extreme caution when entering the unstable building, fearing that any sudden movement might trigger a collapse.

### 2. legal warning

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

a formal warning given by the police to someone who has committed a minor crime.

For teachers: a formal warning issued by law enforcement as an alternative to prosecution for minor offences.

- Since it was his first offence, the teenager received a police caution instead of going to court.
- The officer decided that a formal caution was a more appropriate response than a full prosecution given the suspect's clean record and cooperation.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'issue' or 'receive'.

### 3. sports penalty

noun · CEFR B2

a yellow card given to a player for breaking the rules.

For teachers: a formal disciplinary warning, typically represented by a yellow card, issued to a player during a match.

- The defender received a caution for a late tackle in the second half.
- After a series of persistent fouls, the referee finally issued a caution to the midfielder to regain control of the game.

### 4. to warn

verb · CEFR B2

to warn someone about a possible problem or danger.

For teachers: to advise or warn someone to be careful or to take necessary precautions.

- Doctors caution that the new medicine may cause some sleepiness.
- Financial advisors caution investors against putting all their capital into a single volatile market sector.

Usage: Often followed by 'against' or a 'that' clause.

### 5. to issue a legal warning

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

to give someone a formal police warning.

For teachers: to issue a formal warning to a suspect, often including a statement of their legal rights.

- The police cautioned the man for shoplifting and released him.
- The detective cautioned the suspect, reminding him that anything he said could be used as evidence in a future trial.

## Examples

- You should exercise caution when walking on the icy sidewalk.
- The police officer gave the driver a formal caution instead of a ticket for the minor traffic violation.
- While the initial data looks promising, the lead researcher urged the board to proceed with extreme caution until the long-term effects are fully understood.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.