caution
/ˈkɔːʃ(ə)n/noun, verb
caution is spelled C-A-U-T-I-O-N: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 9.3 times per million words in written English, the 7,445th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, caution means “Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of caution is cautions.
How many letters and syllables are in caution?
| Letters | 7: C-A-U-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 9.3 times per million words; the 7,445th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is caution?
Caution appears 9.3 times per million words in written English, the 7,445th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce caution?
- UK /ˈkɔːʃ(ə)n/
- British /ˈkoːʃ(ə)n/
- /ˈkɔʃ(ə)n/
Caution has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-caution.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with caution?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as caution (/ɔʃn/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: auction.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of caution
- cautions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- cautioning participle, present
- cautioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does caution mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm.
take caution
- 2
A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided.
The guideline expressed caution against excessive radiographic imaging.
- 3
Security; guaranty; bail.
- 4
datedOne who draws attention or causes astonishment by their behaviour.
Oh, that boy, he's a caution! He does make me laugh.
- 5
A formal warning given as an alternative to prosecution in minor cases.
- 6
A yellow card.
verb
- 1
To warn; to alert, advise that caution is warranted.
- 2
UKTo read someone their formal legal rights as part of a lawful arrest.
- 3
To give a yellow card.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Caution in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Warnung, Vorsicht , Achtsamkeit, Behutsamkeit , Kaution , warnen |
| Portuguese | advertência , cuidado, caução, cautela , garantia , advertir |
| Spanish | cuidado, cautela, caución , fianza , advertir |
| French | caution , avertir |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does caution come from?
Recorded since 1297 as Middle English caucioun (“bail, guarantee, pledge”), from Old French caution (“security, surety”), itself from Latin cautiō, from cautus, past participle of caveō, cavēre (“be on one's guard”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).