warning
noun
uk/ˈwɔːnɪŋ/ us [ C or U ] FINANCE
a statement or piece of information that tells people that there might be a danger or a problem in the future:
These figures are a warning to the Bank of England not to raise interest rates too quickly.
The telecoms giant issued a warning that profits would be lower than expected.
a warning about/against sth The Fed gave a blunt warning about America's growing deficit.
The chief executive gave warning that losses on credit cards would get worse in the second half of the year.
adequate/advance/early warning
a blunt/clear/stark warning
come/serve as a warning These figures come as a warning that the crisis is not over yet.
[ C ] HR
a statement that tells an employee that they have done something wrong:
an oral/verbal/written warning Employees must be given a verbal and a written warning before they can be fired.
a final/formal/official warning
See also
health warning
profits warning
warning
adjective [ before noun ]
uk/ˈwɔːnɪŋ/ usused to show that there might be danger or a problem in the future:
Regulators were accused of ignoring the warning signs that led to the bank's collapse.
warning bells
signs or information telling people that something bad might happen:
The figures should sound warning bells that the economy is still too fragile to enable interest rates to rise.