Standard Lemma guide

cautiousness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: K AO1 SH AH0 S N AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being cautious; wariness

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a man of caution

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: caution, carefulness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attentiveness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English cautious Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English cautiousness From cautious + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 谨慎 (jǐnshèn) — the state of being cautious
  • Estonian: ettevaatlikkus — the state of being cautious
  • Macedonian: претпазливост (pretpazlivost) — the state of being cautious