# cautionary

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkɔːʃənəɹi/ · frequency rank #30,726

## Definitions
1. Serving to caution or warn; admonitory
2. Serving to ward off; preventive
3. Held as security or hostage

## Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin cautiōnārius.

## Common misspellings (14)
`acutionary`, `catuionary`, `cauitonary`, `cautinoary`, `cautioanry`, `cautionarry`, `cautionaryy`, `cautionayr`, `cautionnary`, `cautionray`, `cautoinary`, `cauttionary`, `ccautionary`, `cuationary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cautionary