Cautionary: meaning, definitions and examples

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cautionary

 

[ ˈkɔːʃənɛri ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

warning purpose

Cautionary refers to something that serves as a warning or advice to avoid danger or risk. It is commonly used in contexts where a precaution is needed to prevent negative outcomes.

Synonyms

advisory, forewarning, preventive, warning

Examples of usage

  • They issued a cautionary statement about the storm.
  • The cautionary tale warned us about the consequences of greed.
  • He received a cautionary email regarding the potential hazards.
  • The author wrote a cautionary book for new drivers.

Translations

Translations of the word "cautionary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cauteloso

🇮🇳 सावधान

🇩🇪 vorsorglich

🇮🇩 perhatian

🇺🇦 обережний

🇵🇱 ostrożny

🇯🇵 警告的な

🇫🇷 préventif

🇪🇸 cauteloso

🇹🇷 dikkatli

🇰🇷 주의의

🇸🇦 تحذيري

🇨🇿 opatrný

🇸🇰 opatrný

🇨🇳 警惕的

🇸🇮 oprezno

🇮🇸 varkár

🇰🇿 сақтық

🇬🇪 გამაფრთხილებელი

🇦🇿 ehtiyatlı

🇲🇽 cauteloso

Etymology

The word 'cautionary' is derived from the Latin word 'cautio', meaning 'a being careful', which in turn comes from the verb 'cautus', meaning 'to be on guard'. The term has been used in English since the early 19th century. It is often associated with literature and storytelling that emphasizes the importance of being cautious or aware of potential dangers. The usage of cautionary in cautionary tales became particularly popular, serving as an ethical lesson or moral warning to the audience.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,905, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.