hazard
Americannoun
-
an unavoidable danger or risk, even though often foreseeable.
The job was full of hazards.
- Antonyms:
- safety
-
something causing unavoidable danger, peril, risk, or difficulty.
The many hazards of the big city did nothing to convince her to leave.
-
the absence or lack of predictability; chance; uncertainty.
There is an element of hazard in the execution of the most painstaking plans.
- Synonyms:
- fortuitousness, fortuity, accident
-
Golf. a bunker, sand trap, or the like, constituting an obstacle.
-
the uncertainty of the result in throwing a die.
-
a game played with two dice, an earlier and more complicated form of craps.
-
Court Tennis. any of the winning openings.
-
(in English billiards) a stroke by which the player pockets the object ball winning hazard or their own ball after contact with another ball losing hazard.
verb (used with object)
-
to offer (a statement, conjecture, etc.) with the possibility of facing criticism, disapproval, failure, or the like; venture.
He hazarded a guess, with trepidation, as to her motives in writing the article.
-
to put to the risk of being lost; expose to risk.
In making the investment, he hazarded all his savings.
-
to take or run the risk of (a misfortune, penalty, etc.).
Thieves hazard arrest.
-
to venture upon (anything of doubtful issue).
to hazard a dangerous encounter.
idioms
noun
-
exposure or vulnerability to injury, loss, evil, etc
-
at risk; in danger
-
a thing likely to cause injury, etc
-
golf an obstacle such as a bunker, a road, rough, water, etc
-
chance; accident (esp in the phrase by hazard )
-
a gambling game played with two dice
-
real tennis
-
the receiver's side of the court
-
one of the winning openings
-
-
billiards a scoring stroke made either when a ball other than the striker's is pocketed ( winning hazard ) or the striker's cue ball itself ( losing hazard )
verb
-
to chance or risk
-
to venture (an opinion, guess, etc)
-
to expose to danger
Related Words
See danger.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hazard
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English hasard from Old French, perhaps from Arabic al-zahr “the die”
Explanation
If something is a hazard, it is a potential source of danger. Balloons are fun, but they're a hazard for little kids who might put them in their mouths. If you play miniature golf, you have to watch for hazards on the course — obstacles like the sand trap beside the dinosaur or the water hazard just past the windmill. As a verb, hazard means to take a risk, especially for the chance of a good return. You might hazard your chances at the roulette table or hazard a guess — that is, risk making a guess when you aren't certain.
Vocabulary lists containing hazard
"Remarks at the Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center," Vocabulary from the speech
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!
Beowulf vocabulary
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!
Earth Science - Middle School
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.
Researchers say these insights could improve future volcanic hazard forecasting.
From Science Daily • May 14, 2026
"It's really hazardous to have loose items like rolled-up towels. Babies can easily grab them and cover themselves with them... which is an overheating and breathing hazard," said Ball.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
The police union may try to negotiate for bonus, hazard and standby pay for officers who work the Games when their contract expires next June.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
In the fight over solar development, Heath said he was bombarded by just about every argument from critics — including claims that solar fields are a health hazard.
From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026
The hazard from radiation in its various forms is now reasonably well understood — although still denied in surprising places.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
