What does precautionary mean?
Word: Precautionary
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Precautionary means done in advance so that a problem does not happen or does less harm.
Word origin: Formed from the noun precaution, which goes back to Latin praecavere.
How do you spell precautionary?
Syllables: pre - cau - tion - a - ry
Tricky part: The ending is the trap. It is said so lightly that students cannot hear the vowel before the r, and they write -ery or -ory.
Watch out for: precautionery, precautionory, precautionry
Memory tip: Dictionary and precautionary end alike: keeping a dictionary close is a precautionary step before any spelling test.
Precautionary in a sentence
Example 1: The school moved sports day indoors as a precautionary step when dark clouds gathered.
Example 2: Dad carries a spare tyre on long drives as a precautionary measure.
Example 3: Meera saved a precautionary copy of her project on a pen drive.
Fun Fact
Environmental scientists talk about the precautionary principle: if an action might harm nature, take care even before the harm is fully proved.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
prec_ _tionary
a) ou
b) oa
c) au
d) aw
Show answer
c) au. These are the same two letters as in the word caution.
Word Tally
Score 2 marks for each correctly spelt word. How many marks in all?
precautionary, vigilent, meticulous, perseverence, resilient
a) 2
b) 8
c) 4
d) 6
Show answer
d) 6. Vigilent and perseverence are misspelt, so the three correct words earn 6 marks.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
trauconeipyar
a) lasting for only a very short time
b) meant to keep trouble away before it starts
c) said or done without any thought at all
d) given freely as a way of saying thanks
Show answer
b) meant to keep trouble away before it starts. Unjumbled, this is precautionary, a word for steps taken ahead of time.
Sound Check
In which word is 'ti' pronounced differently?
a) substantial
b) ambitious
c) precautionary
d) entitle
Show answer
d) entitle. In entitle the ti is the "tie" sound; in the other three it is a "sh" sound.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is a precautionary action?
a) buying a new torch next month
b) packing a torch for a night trek
c) lending your torch to a friend
d) mending a torch after the trek
Show answer
b) packing a torch for a night trek
2. A notice says the pool is closed 'on a precautionary basis'. What does this suggest?
a) staff want to rule out a possible fault
b) the pool is reserved for one swim team
c) the water is being drained for winter
d) the pool has been closed down for good
Show answer
a) staff want to rule out a possible fault
