cautelar

precautionary

adjective kow-teh-LAHR Rare

Origin: from Latin cautela (caution)

Also means

preventive

Usage Note

Cautelar is primarily a legal and administrative term: medida cautelar is a precautionary or interim measure ordered by a court. Outside the legal register it is rare; the everyday equivalent is preventivo. It is invariable in gender (medida cautelar, embargo cautelar) but takes a plural cautelares.

Examples

"El juez ordenó una medida cautelar inmediata."

Natural Translation

The judge ordered an immediate precautionary measure.

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