Definition

Adjective: Taken or carried out as a precaution; intended to prevent harm or trouble before it occurs. It describes actions, measures, or advice that are designed to avoid potential danger, failure, or risk.

Usage

The adjective "precautionary" is used to modify nouns that describe actions or measures. It is typically used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as in official guidelines, safety instructions, medical advice, or strategic planning. It emphasizes a proactive and careful approach.

Examples

• The government issued a precautionary evacuation order before the hurricane made landfall.
• As a precautionary measure, all passengers must fasten their seatbelts during takeoff and landing.
• The doctor's advice was purely precautionary; there was no confirmed illness yet.

Advanced Usage

• "Precautionary principle": A philosophical and legal approach to policy and decision-making, stating that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing severe harm to the public or the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus, the burden of proof falls on those taking the action. It advocates for precautionary measures even when cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established.
  • The company adhered to the precautionary principle and halted production until the chemical's safety could be verified.

Variants and Related Words

• Precaution (noun): An action taken in advance to prevent harm or secure good results.
  • Wearing a helmet is a sensible precaution when cycling.
• Precautionarily (adverb, rare): In a precautionary manner.
  • The area was precautionarily closed to the public.

Synonyms

• Preventive
• Prophylactic
• Safeguarding
• Protective
• Preemptive

Antonyms

• Reactionary
• Remedial
• Curative

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Err on the side of caution": This idiom describes a mindset similar to taking precautionary action. It means to choose the safest course of action when in doubt.
  • We don't know how severe the storm will be, so let's err on the side of caution and cancel the outdoor event.

Adjective

1. taken in advance to protect against possible danger or failure
   • gave precautionary advice
   • I would take precautionary steps to keep him away