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Precaution vs Prevention - What's the difference?

precaution | prevention |

As nouns the difference between precaution and prevention

is that precaution is previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution while prevention is the act of going, or state of being, before.

As a verb precaution

is : To warn or caution beforehand. --Locke.

precaution

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.
  • * John Henry Newman
    • The ancient philosophers treasured up their supposed discoveries with miserable precaution .
  • A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act.
    • to take precautions against risks of accident

    Derived terms

    * precautionary

    See also

    * prevention

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive): To warn or caution beforehand. --.
  • (rare): To take precaution against. --.

    • prevention

    English

    Noun

  • (obsolete) The act of going, or state of being, before.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • The greater the distance, the greater the prevention .
  • (obsolete) Anticipation; especially, anticipation of needs, wishes, hazards and risks; hence, precaution; forethought.
    • (Hammond)
    (Shakespeare)
  • The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting.
    • (South)
  • * Shakespeare
    • Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention .