Caveat

A caveat is a warning or a specific condition or limitation attached to an agreement, statement, or legal document. It highlights a potential problem or restriction that needs to be considered before proceeding. The purpose of a caveat is to provide caution and prevent misunderstanding or negative consequences. It can relate to a wide variety of contexts, from scientific studies to business deals to personal relationships.

Caveat meaning with examples

• The contract for the house purchase included a caveat regarding potential structural damage, requiring an inspection. Without that caveat, we may have suffered significant expenses down the line. The sellers added it to disclose all issues with the house. Ignoring that caveat would have been disastrous.
• The scientific study presented a caveat about the limitations of its sample size, influencing the generalization of the study. Because of this caveat, the study could not say that these findings were absolute. The research team was explicit about this caveat, and it allowed for further research.
• The financial advisor issued a caveat concerning market volatility before investing clients' money, meaning any investment might be subject to change. Before investing, she wanted all clients to be aware of the caveat. Not including this caveat could open her up to litigation.
• The job offer had a caveat about the demanding work schedule. This meant the job may be hard and require many hours. Many applicants accepted the offer without considering this caveat, and they quickly regretted their decisions. The company included the caveat upfront.
• The restaurant's menu contained a caveat about possible cross-contamination with allergens. The servers were trained to inform the patrons of the caveat so no problems came of this. They ensured that the caveat was communicated.