admonition
C1formal, written
Definition
Meaning
A firm, authoritative warning or reprimand, often intended to correct behaviour.
A piece of advice that is also a warning, a cautionary counsel, or a mild rebuke.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a nuance of moral or corrective intent. Stronger than 'advice' but milder and less severe than 'reprimand'. Often implies the speaker is in a position of authority or experience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Both varieties use the word identically.
Connotations
Slightly more archaic or literary in connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both. Possibly slightly more common in American legal or formal corporate contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to offer/give/issue an admonition (to someone)an admonition (to someone) (to do something)an admonition against (something/doing something)to ignore/heed an admonitionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A word to the wise (is sufficient).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal written or verbal warning from management regarding policy or conduct breaches. 'He received an official admonition from HR for his tardiness.'
Academic
Used in texts on ethics, law, or history to describe formal counsel or rebuke. 'The philosopher's admonitions about justice remain relevant.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used humorously or ironically for minor corrections. 'My wife's admonition to wear a coat was, as usual, correct.'
Technical
In legal contexts, a judge's formal warning to a jury or a reprimand to an attorney that is not a sanction.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The headmaster felt he must admonish the pupils for their unruly behaviour.
- I was admonished not to touch the wet paint.
American English
- The judge admonished the attorney for speaking out of turn.
- She admonished her children to look both ways before crossing.
adverb
British English
- The teacher spoke admonitorily about the consequences of plagiarism.
- He shook his head admonitorily at their plan.
American English
- She looked at him admonitorily over her glasses.
- The memo was written admonitorily to stress its importance.
adjective
British English
- He spoke in an admonitory tone, which made everyone listen carefully.
- The letter had an admonitory quality about future spending.
American English
- Her admonitory glance was enough to silence the room.
- The report contained admonitory language regarding safety protocols.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher's admonition was clear: do your homework.
- He ignored his friend's admonition and got lost.
- Despite repeated admonitions from his doctor, he continued to smoke.
- The letter contained a stern admonition to settle the debt promptly.
- The judge's admonition to the jury was to disregard the prosecutor's last statement.
- Her father's constant admonitions about frugality eventually shaped her financial habits.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ADvice + MONITOR + actION = ADMONITION. It's the action of monitoring and advising someone to correct them.
Conceptual Metaphor
GUIDANCE IS A PATH / CORRECTION IS MEDICINE (A bitter but necessary pill).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'предупреждение', which is more neutral ('warning'). 'Admonition' has a stronger corrective/moral nuance.
- Do not confuse with 'admonishment' (the act of admonishing) which is near-synonymous but less common.
- Not a direct equivalent of 'выговор' (reprimand), which is stronger and more official.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'admonision' or 'admonission'.
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'admonish').
- Using it in overly informal contexts where 'warning' or 'advice' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'admonition' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'admonition' is a specific type of warning that includes an element of correction, advice, or mild rebuke, often from a position of authority. A 'warning' is more general and can be purely informational.
No. The noun is 'admonition'. The verb form is 'to admonish'. A common mistake is using 'admonition' as a verb (e.g., 'I admonitioned him').
No, it is a formal, low-frequency word (C1 level). In everyday speech, people are more likely to use 'warning', 'advice', or 'telling off'.
The most common related adjective is 'admonitory' (e.g., an admonitory tone). 'Admonitive' exists but is very rare.