Caveat definition

kăvē-ät, kävē-, kāvē-ăt
caveats
See word origin
Frequency:
To submit a caveat.
verb
30
10
(law) To make a caveat to (a will, for example).
verb
22
5
A warning.
noun
19
4
(informal) To qualify with a warning or clarification.

The spokesperson caveated the statement with a reminder that certain facts were still unknown.

verb
8
0
To qualify a particular statement with a proviso or caveat.
verb
6
0
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(law) A formal notice that an interested party files with the proper legal authorities, directing them to refrain from an action until the party can be heard.
noun
4
1
Let him or her beware.
noun
4
1

He gave his daughter some hyacinth bulbs with the caveat that she plant them in the shade.

noun
4
1
An admonition, caution, or warning.
noun
3
0
A formal notice to a court or public official that the notifier has an interest in a matter or property and requests the suspension of some procedure or proceeding concerning the matter or property until the notifier is given a hearing.
noun
3
0
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The definition of a caveat is a warning.

An example of caveat is a police officer telling someone to stop or they'll shoot.

noun
4
2
A qualification or explanation.
noun
4
2
(law) A formal notice filed by an interested party requesting postponement of a court proceeding or other action until the filer can be heard.
noun
1
0
(law) A formal notice of interest in land, under a Torrens land-title system.
noun
1
0
(law) A notice requesting a postponement of a court proceeding.
noun
2
2
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A warning or caution.

Made a recommendation with many caveats.

noun
0
0
noun
0
0
1825, John Jamieson, Supplement to the Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, volume 1, page 210.

This last expression minds me to caveat the Reader, not to be angry at Helebore because it's called Christmas flowre; […]

verb
0
0
A formal notice or warning given by a party to a judge or other court officer concerning his or her behavior and requesting a suspension of the proceeding until the merits of the notice or warning are determined.
noun
0
1
(law, dated) To issue a notice requesting that proceedings be suspended.
verb
0
1
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(law) To lodge a formal notice of interest in land, under a Torrens land-title system.
verb
0
2

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
caveat
Plural:
caveats

Origin of caveat

  • From Latin let him beware third person sing. present subjunctive of cavēre to beware

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From the Latin verb form caveat (“he may beware of”), from caveō (“I beware of”).

    From Wiktionary

Caveat Sentence Examples

  • Since it was the young girl's first time getting pulled over, the police officer let her off with the caveat that next time he would not be so lenient.

  • The court of appeal inserted a crucial caveat to the case.

  • The teacher gave the unruly student a caveat; if he continued to misbehave he would end up in detention.

  • She put a caveat on the estate to prevent probate.

  • I'll have to add our usual caveat to the agreement.

More sentences

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Words near caveat in the Dictionary