What does admonition mean?
An admonition is a firm yet often kindly word of warning or advice, delivered with the intention of correcting someone's behavior. Unlike a harsh rebuke, it carries an undertone of concern: the person offering it usually wants the recipient to improve, not merely to feel chastised. The word appears most often in formal or literary contexts — a mentor's admonitions to a student, a parent's admonitions to a child, or a court's formal admonition as a light penalty. It derives from the Latin 'admonere', meaning to remind or warn, sharing roots with words like 'monitor' and 'premonition'. Because it blends authority with goodwill, 'admonition' is a precise choice when describing guidance that warns without condemning, making it valuable in writing that distinguishes gentle correction from outright criticism.
nounA firm, often authoritative warning or piece of advice, especially one given gently or in a spirit of correction. It can also denote a formal caution issued by a court as a lesser penalty.
- A firm but often gentle warning or counsel to correct behavior.
- A formal judicial caution given as a minor penalty, especially in Scottish law.
"Despite his mentor's repeated admonitions to slow down, he pressed on with the project."
"She offered a word of admonition about the dangers of overworking."
"The judge let him off with an admonition rather than a fine."
The plural is regular and commonly used when referring to repeated warnings or multiple pieces of corrective advice.
"All their admonitions fell on deaf ears."
The same Latin root that gives us 'monitor' — someone who watches over you — also gives us 'admonition': a warning that literally means being 'minded' toward better behavior.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of admonition
Admonition comes from the Latin 'admonitio', formed from 'admonere', meaning to remind, advise, or warn — literally 'to make mindful of'. The word entered English via Old French in the late Middle English period, around the fourteenth century. It shares its root with 'admonish', 'monitor', 'monument', and 'premonition', all tracing back to the Latin verb 'monere' (to warn).
Related word forms
How admonition is actually used
Formal and somewhat literary in register; more common in written than everyday spoken English. The tone is typically corrective rather than harsh — an admonition implies care for the person being warned, unlike a scolding or rebuke.
Easily confused with admonition
An admission is a statement acknowledging something is true (or entry into a place), while an admonition is a warning or reprimand.