let the buyer beware

verb

It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure the soundness of goods or services prior to their purchase.

OriginLatin caveat ēmptor →
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Meanings

verblet the buyer beware (third-person singular simple present lets the buyer beware, present participle letting the buyer beware, simple past and past participle let the buyer beware)

present singular third person lets the buyer beware · participle present letting the buyer beware

  1. idiomaticinformalIt is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure the soundness of goods or services prior to their purchase.

    Why ſhould his own error bind him, rather then the others fraud acquit him? Let the buyer beware, ſaith the old Law-beaten termer.

    1645 March 4, John Milton, “Tetrachordon, or Expoſitions upon the four chief place of Scripture which treat of Marriage, or Nullities in Marriage”, in A Complete Collection of the Hiſtorical, Political, and Miſcellaneous Works of John Milton, both Engliſh and Latin, volume 1, published 1698, page 348

Origin

  1. Latincaveat ēmptor
  2. Englishlet the buyer beware

Calque of Latin caveat ēmptor.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 買者自負 /买者自负
  • 買者自負 /买者自负 (mǎizhě zìfù)buyer's responsibility
Finnish ostaja varokoon
  • ostaja varokoonbuyer's responsibility
Cite this entry
APA

let the buyer beware. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let%20the%20buyer%20beware

MLA

“let the buyer beware.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let%20the%20buyer%20beware. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “let the buyer beware,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let%20the%20buyer%20beware.

Source: let the buyer beware on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.