n.

1. An action taken in advance to protect against possible danger, failure, or injury; a safeguard: followed safety precautions when using heavy machinery.
2. Caution practiced in advance; forethought or circumspection: a need for precaution when planning a vacation.

[Late Latin praecautiō, praecautiōn-, from praecautus, past participle of Latin praecavēre, to guard against : prae-, pre- + cavēre, to beware.]

noun

1. Careful forethought to avoid harm or risk: calculation, care, carefulness, caution, chariness, gingerliness, wariness. See fear/courage.
2. The exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters: caution, circumspection, discretion, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethought, forethoughtfulness, prudence. See careful/careless.

n

Definition: carefulness; preventative measure
Antonyms: carelessness

---

IN BRIEF: Care taken ahead of time.

Taking the precaution of looking both ways before you cross the street will keep you safe.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - forsigtighed, forholdsregel

Nederlands (Dutch)
voorzorg

Français (French)
n. - précaution

Deutsch (German)
n. - Vorsicht(smaßnahme)

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - προφύλαξη, μέτρο προφύλαξης, προληπτικό μέτρο, (πληθ.) χρήση αντισυλληπτικών μέσων

Italiano (Italian)
precauzione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - precaução (f)

Русский (Russian)
предосторожность

Español (Spanish)
n. - precaución

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - försiktighet(såtgärd), förebyggande åtgärd

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
预防, 谨慎, 警惕, 预防措施

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 預防, 謹慎, 警惕, 預防措施

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 경계, 예방책

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 用心, 警戒

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) حيطه, أخذ الحذر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮זהירות, אמצעי זהירות, שימוש באמצעי-מניעה (מדוברת)‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.