precautionary
Done before trouble
Precautionary describes actions taken in advance to prevent something unwanted or dangerous from happening.
A precautionary measure is one designed to head off potential problems before they arise: The city issued a precautionary evacuation order ahead of the storm.
The precautionary principle, important in environmental and public health policy, holds that if an action might cause harm, the burden of proof falls on those who want to proceed rather than those urging caution.
Carefully considering consequences
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- foresightedHaving anticipation of consequences
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
anticipatory · preemptive · forward-thinking · calculated · measured · sensible · thoughtful · risk-averse
Measure preventing disease or harm
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- inoculationInjection conferring disease resistance
- protectiveServing to guard
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
safeguarding · shielding · quarantine · isolation · disinfection · sterilization · vaccination · screening
Notice recommending action
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- noticeBecome aware of
- forewarningNotice of future trouble
- heads-upInformal advance warning
disclaimer · caveat · notification · bulletin · announcement · signal · indicator · early-warning
Protective head covering
- seatbeltVehicle passenger restraint
- airbagVehicle collision cushion
- guardrailRoadside safety barrier
- lifejacketBuoyant vest for water
goggles · earplugs · harness · handrail · circuit-breaker · insulation · reinforcement · padding
Ongoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
scrutiny · inspection · checking · observation · attentiveness · awareness · patrol · screening
circumspect
Carefully considering consequences
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- foresightedHaving anticipation of consequences
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
deliberate · anticipatory · preemptive · forward-thinking · calculated · measured · sensible · thoughtful · risk-averse · conservative
prophylactic
Measure preventing disease or harm
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- inoculationInjection conferring disease resistance
- protectiveServing to guard
defensive · safeguarding · shielding · quarantine · isolation · disinfection · sterilization · vaccination · screening · deterrent
advisory
Notice recommending action
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- noticeBecome aware of
- forewarningNotice of future trouble
heads-up · disclaimer · caveat · notification · bulletin · announcement · signal · indicator · early-warning
helmet
Protective head covering
lifejacket · goggles · earplugs · harness · handrail · circuit-breaker · insulation · reinforcement · padding · railing
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- alertnessActive mental awareness
oversight · scrutiny · inspection · checking · observation · attentiveness · awareness · patrol · screening · testing
precautionaryreactive
Tending to respond
remedial · corrective · responsive · after-the-fact · retrospective
precautionaryreckless
Carelessly ignoring danger
careless · permissive · heedless · incautious · negligent
precautionaryfacilitating
Making something simpler
enabling · promoting · encouraging · furthering · fostering
- precautionary measuresPreventive actions against risk
- precautionary principleProtect first, prove later
caution, cautious, precaution, incautious, cautionary, precautions