precaution

noun

pre·​cau·​tion pri-ˈkȯ-shən How to pronounce precaution (audio)
1
: care taken in advance : foresight
warned of the need for precaution
2
: a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or secure good : safeguard
take the necessary precautions
precautionary adjective

Examples of precaution in a Sentence

Be sure to follow the usual safety precautions when cooking outdoors. When driving, she always wears her seatbelt as a precaution. Every home owner should take precautions against fire. She took the precaution of packing extra medicine for the trip.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After the baby was found, he was taken to a local children's hospital as a precaution, while detectives canvassed the area, looked into camera footage, and tried to figure out who left the baby there. Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024 Based on your medical history, your healthcare provider can take precautions to reduce your risk of these problems. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 25 Dec. 2024 The supplements still offer other health benefits but should not be the only precaution taken to prevent falls and fractures. Korin Miller, Health, 24 Dec. 2024 The teenage driver was taken home by a family member as a precaution, but no other injuries were reported, Bower said. Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precaution 

Word History

Etymology

French précaution, from Late Latin praecaution-, praecautio, from Latin praecavēre to guard against, from prae- + cavēre to be on one's guard — more at hear

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of precaution was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near precaution

Cite this Entry

“Precaution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precaution. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

precaution

noun
pre·​cau·​tion pri-ˈkȯ-shən How to pronounce precaution (audio)
1
: care taken in advance : foresight
2
: a measure taken beforehand to prevent harm or to bring about a good result
take precautions against fire
precautionary adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on precaution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!