peril
Americannoun
-
exposure to injury, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger.
They faced the peril of falling rocks.
-
something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction.
verb (used with object)
noun
Related Words
See danger.
Other Word Forms
- multiperil adjective
- perilless adjective
Etymology
Origin of peril
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin perīculum “danger, test, trial,” from perī-, verb base meaning “try” (also found in the compound experīrī “to try, test”; see experience) + -culum -cle 2
Explanation
If you realize mid-climb that your rock climbing rope is frayed, you might be in peril. The word peril means imminent danger to life and limb. Peril comes from the Latin peric(u)lum, meaning danger. Today it's often used in tandem with the word mortal, which relates to death. For example, you're in mortal peril when you're flying down a cliff-side trail on your mountain bike and you hit loose gravel. Peril can also describe dangers of a less physical sort, though it's less common. If your employer sinks your 401K into what turns out to be a Ponzi scheme, he's put your retirement in peril.
Vocabulary lists containing peril
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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ACT Vocabulary List
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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.
Lori Inglis Hall’s novel follows twins into World War II peril, while Mieko Kawakami’s group of female friends work to get by in modern Japan.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“I will not stand by as peril draws closer and closer.”
From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026
But she says major parties ignore voters' continued drift to minor parties "at their peril".
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
I hope his story can be remembered not because of its tragedy, but because it demanded a future where people deserving refuge are not thrown into peril.
From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026
The eyes watched and those many-towered men knew that a plane was in agony and a pilot was trying to bring that plane home at his own peril.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
