cautionary

American

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee] / ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i /

adjective

of the nature of or containing a warning.

cautionary advice; a cautionary tale.

cautionary British

/ ˈkɔːʃənərɪ /

adjective

serving as a warning; intended to warn

a cautionary tale

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cautionary

First recorded in 1590–1600; caution + -ary

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant open their book User Friendly with the cautionary tale of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

But there’s a reason that “I did my own research” has become a cautionary internet meme.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

He long served as a moral exemplar; he should now serve as a cautionary tale known to all.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

At First Minister's Questions on Thursday, John Swinney said the delays were because the same "cautionary approach taken in Edinburgh" was now being taken in Aberdeen.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

We only need to turn to the doctors of Montaigne’s day for a cautionary example.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023