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Word

caveat

noun C1
UK /ˈkævɪæt/
US /ˈkæviɑt/

Meanings

noun

A warning or condition added to something you say, promise, or agree to.

caveat: A warning or condition added to something you say, promise, or agree to.
noun

In law, a formal notice that prevents an action until the notice is dealt with.

caveat: In law, a formal notice that prevents an action until the notice is dealt with.

Definition

A caveat is a warning or condition that you should keep in mind before accepting or doing something.

A caveat is a statement that limits what you have just said or agreed to. It warns that something is not completely true in every case, or that it comes with conditions. People often add a caveat to avoid misunderstandings and to highlight an important exception.

Examples

  • One caveat is that the price doesn’t include shipping.
  • I agree with your plan, with the caveat that we review it in a month.
  • The study is useful, but there’s a caveat about the small sample size.
  • He offered help, with one caveat: don’t tell anyone.
  • There is one caveat to this deal—payment is due upfront.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse caveat with "cave" and mispronounce it as /keɪvæt/ instead of /ˈkæviˌæt/.