pitfall
Americannoun
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a lightly covered and unnoticeable pit prepared as a trap for people or animals.
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any trap or danger for the unwary.
the pitfall of excessive pride.
noun
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an unsuspected difficulty or danger
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a trap in the form of a concealed pit, designed to catch men or wild animals
Related Words
See trap 1.
Etymology
Origin of pitfall
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English pittefalle, equivalent to pitte pit 1 + falle ( Old English fealle ) “trap”
Explanation
A pitfall is a trap or difficulty you didn't see. A possible pitfall for high school seniors is not working hard after they know they've already been accepted into college. In 1300, pitfall referred to an animal trap, such as branches laid across a deep hole offering no escape. Since the 1580s, pitfall has come to describe any hidden or unexpected difficulty, and its meaning has expanded to apply to humans. You might encounter a pitfall when trying to use a brand new computer program that's unexpectedly precise. It can even be a habit you don't want to address, like the pitfalls of snacking in front of the television every night.
Vocabulary lists containing pitfall
"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 4
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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The Scoop on Net Neutrality
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
From the social side, a 2016 research paper titled "A Pitfall in Ethical Investing: ESG Disclosures Reflect Vulnerabilities, not Virtues," found that "ethics controversies are more likely for firms that adopt popular ESG policies."
From US News • Oct. 21, 2016
The series kicks off quite appropriately at the Billy Wilder Theater with Wilder's 1944 noir masterpiece "Double Indemnity" starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray as well as Andre de Toth's 1948 "Pitfall" with Dick Powell.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2014
He also has over 50 canines at Pitfall Kennels, his 55-acre ranch in south Fulton County; his very first, Iggy, was bought in the UK.
From The Guardian • Jul. 9, 2010
And then you plug in an old Atari and it turns out Pitfall just isn’t as exciting today as it was back when Jack Black sold it to you:
From Slate
Beside the Atari was a shoebox containing nine game cartridges: Combat, Space Invaders, Pitfall, Kaboom!,
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
