What does caution mean?
Caution refers to the care and vigilance a person exercises in order to avoid danger, error, or unwanted consequences. It appears both as a noun — as in 'proceed with caution' — and as a verb meaning to warn someone, often formally, as when a police officer cautions a suspect or a teacher cautions a student against repeating a mistake. The word carries a broadly positive connotation of prudence and good judgment, though excessive caution may be criticized as timidity. Its influence extends into everyday idioms such as 'throwing caution to the wind,' which describes abandoning careful restraint in favor of bold action. Related forms include the adjective 'cautious,' describing careful behavior, and 'precaution,' a measure taken in advance to prevent harm. Because so many situations — from handling hazardous materials to making financial decisions — call for measured judgment, caution remains one of the most practical and frequently used words in the language.
Care taken to avoid danger, mistakes, or harm; also, a warning given to alert someone to possible consequences.
"Drivers were advised to exercise caution on the icy roads."
In British legal contexts, a police caution is a formal warning that may be issued instead of prosecution.
To warn someone, often formally or firmly, about possible dangers or consequences.
"The manager cautioned the team not to underestimate the deadline."
The plural typically refers to multiple warnings or instances of official admonishment, rather than multiple acts of care.
"The new employee received several cautions before being dismissed."
When you 'throw caution to the wind,' you're discarding one of English's oldest pieces of advice — a word that has warned people for over 700 years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of caution
Caution entered English in the late Middle Ages, borrowed from Old French 'caucion,' which derived from Latin 'cautio,' meaning 'care' or 'heedfulness.' The Latin noun comes from the verb 'cavere,' meaning 'to be on one's guard' or 'to take care,' a root that also gives us 'cautious,' 'precaution,' and 'cautionary.' The word has carried its core sense of watchful care since its earliest recorded use in English in the 14th century, with the verb sense developing later.
Related word forms
How caution is actually used
In British English, 'caution' has a specific formal sense: a police caution is an official warning given instead of prosecution. In general usage the word carries a neutral-to-positive connotation of prudence, though 'over-caution' can suggest excessive timidity.
Easily confused with caution
'Caution' is the noun or verb referring to care itself or the act of warning, while 'cautious' is the adjective describing a person or behavior that shows such care.