periphery

[puh-rif-uh-ree]

noun

plural

peripheries 

1. the external boundary of any surface or area.

   Synonyms: perimeter, circumference
   Antonyms: center

2. the external surface of a body.

   Antonyms: center

3. the edge or outskirts, as of a city or urban area.

4. the relatively minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects of the subject in question.

   The preliminary research did not, of course, take me beyond the periphery of my problem.

5. Anatomy.,  the area in which nerves end.

periphery

/ pəˈrɪfərɪ /

noun

1. the outermost boundary of an area

2. the outside surface of something

3. anatomy the surface or outermost part of the body or one of its organs or parts

Word History and Origins

Origin of periphery¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Late Latin peripherīa, from Greek periphéreia “circumference,” literally, “a bearing round,” from peri- peri- + phér(ein) “to bear” + -eia -y ³; replacing Middle English periferie, from Medieval Latin periferīa, variant spelling of Late Latin peripherīa

Word History and Origins

Origin of periphery¹

C16: from Late Latin peripherīa, from Greek, from _peri- + pherein to bear

Example Sentences

The most well-off blacks tended to live on the periphery and were the first to leave the neighborhoods when they had acquired the means to do so.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

France’s borrowing costs have risen to the levels of Europe’s debt-laden periphery as Macron has cast about for a prime minister who can pass a new budget by the end of the year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When the Americans were humbled by the Europeans two years ago, DeChambeau was even further on the periphery than he was at Whistling Straits.

Read more on BBC

Other attendees, lounging on cushions throughout the boutique, gazed down at their e-readers but peeked as cats bounced around like pinballs in their periphery.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

During his 12 years as pontiff, Francis visited 68 countries on 47 foreign trips, often choosing destinations on the world's margins, which he described as the Church's "peripheries".

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Related Words

• brink 
• fringe 
• perimeter 
• rim 
• verge