Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

pothole

American  
[pot-hohl] / ˈpɒtˌhoʊl /

noun

  1. a deep hole; pit.

  2. a hole formed in pavement, as by excessive use or by extremes of weather.

  3. a more or less cylindrical hole formed in rock by the grinding action of the detrital material in eddying water.

  4. a cave opening vertically from the ground surface.

pothole British  
/ ˈpɒtˌhəʊl /

noun

  1. geography

    1. a deep hole in limestone areas resulting from action by running water See also sinkhole

    2. a circular hole in the bed of a river produced by abrasion

  2. a deep hole, esp one produced in a road surface by wear or weathering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pothole

First recorded in 1820–30; pot 1 + hole

Explanation

A pothole is a hole or little pit in a road. Drivers complain about potholes frequently. If you've ever felt a little bump while in a car, you probably hit a pothole: a little hole in the street caused by wear and tear. Newly paved roads are smooth and have no potholes, but potholes develop over time. Drivers hate potholes because the little bump is startling, and a big pothole could actually damage a car. Eventually, potholes are usually filled in when a road gets paved. Potholes are also called chuckholes.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing pothole

Look Both Ways

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Circuit

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

As Brave as You

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain rose by 90% between 2021 and 2024, according to analysis by the RAC motoring group.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

The second aviary focuses on the vast duck feeding and breeding grounds of the Prairie Pothole Region, with its grasslands and shallow ponds, called potholes.

From Washington Post • Feb. 22, 2023

Pothole issues are not limited to Los Angeles, of course.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2023

The Prairie Pothole Region spanning the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana, and Iowa is what conservation organization Delta Waterfowl senior vice president John Devney calls "One of the most incredible conservation assets on the continent."

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2021

There is a little bit of Senator Pothole in him.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2020

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.