Caveat

/ˈkæv.i.æt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.

She accepted the job offer with the caveat that her salary would be reviewed in six months.

a legal warning or notice.

The lawyer filed a caveat to prevent the sale of the estate until the dispute was resolved.

a cautionary detail to be considered when assessing or analyzing something.

The results of the study were promising, but there was one important caveat: the sample size was very small.

a stipulation that modifies a general statement.

His faith in the investment was strong, but he added a caveat regarding market volatility.

Latin 'caveat', meaning 'let him beware'

caveat emptor

Let the buyer beware; the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality of a purchase.

caveat lector

Let the reader beware; a warning to readers about what they are reading.

caution

A warning to take care in a particular situation.

warning

A statement or event that indicates a possible or impending danger.

A heads up about potential issues.

Just a caveat, that plan could backfire.