Word
cautionary
Phoneticscau·tion·ary
US/ˈkɔʃəˌnɛɹi/
UK/kˈɔːʃənəɹi/
Definition
adj. describing a warning that tells you to be careful or to avoid a mistake. You use this to describe a story or a piece of advice that is meant to teach you a lesson.
adj. serving as a warning or a lesson to be careful. Often used to describe a narrative or statement intended to prevent future errors.
Examples
“The story has a cautionary ending.”
“The report provides a cautionary tale about the risks of ignoring early signs of financial instability.”
“The author's cautionary tone suggests that while the initial success of the project was impressive, the long-term consequences were far more complex than the public realized.”
Examples
simple
“The story has a cautionary ending.”
contextual
“The report provides a cautionary tale about the risks of ignoring early signs of financial instability.”
complex
“The author's cautionary tone suggests that while the initial success of the project was impressive, the long-term consequences were far more complex than the public realized.”
Real-World Examples
“As a cautionary tale, CloudSEK said that Trivy developers rotated but failed to fully revoke an automation token over a 20-day window.” “For government revenue, the 1980 experience is a cautionary tale: Projections built on current prices tend to overstate what a tax will collect.” “For Touron-Gardic, the example reveals a cautionary tale of overprotective locals who put surfing at odds with conservation, but it shouldn’t be taken to represent all surfers.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
01. cautionary tale
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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