noun
precaution
pree-KAW-shuhn
noun
1
An action taken in advance to prevent a problem or reduce a risk.
"Wearing a helmet is a simple precaution that can prevent serious injury."
"The airline took extra precautions during the storm."
How to Use Precaution
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you do ahead of time to stay safe or avoid trouble later.
Common pairings
take precautions
safety precaution
as a precaution
Word Forms
precautioned past tense, precautions plural, precautions singular
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Wearing a helmet is a simple _____ that can prevent serious injury.
Etymology
From French "précaution," from Latin "praecautio," from "praecavere" ("to guard against beforehand") — combining "prae" ("before") and "cavere" ("to be careful").