Caveat

Caveat is a noun meaning a warning or proviso intended to prevent misunderstanding or to indicate a condition. The term comes from the Latin caveat, literally "let him beware." In legal and administrative contexts, a caveat is a formal notice filed with a court or government office to protect a party's rights or to delay action until an issue is resolved. For example, a caveat against probate may be filed to prevent the granting of letters testamentary without notice to interested parties.

In ordinary use, caveats appear as warnings or cautions within contracts, policies, and product labeling, drawing attention to risks, limitations, or conditions that should be verified by the party taking action. The phrase caveat emptor, meaning "let the buyer beware," is a well-known maxim in commerce that states that buyers assume the risk of a purchase in the absence of warranties. An older but related expression is caveat lector, meaning "let the reader beware," used to alert readers to potential issues in a text.

Caveat is distinct from a disclaimer or warranty; it functions primarily as a caution or reservation rather than a formal assumption of liability. In modern writing, it is commonly used to flag uncertainties, to reserve rights, or to invite further scrutiny of a statement or document.