periphery

American  

[puh-rif-uh-ree] / pəˈrɪf ə ri /

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.

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periphery British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of periphery

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

Explanation

When something is on the periphery of your vision, you can only see it when you’re looking sideways. Periphery means outside the boundary of something. If you’re on the periphery of a group, you’re close to it but not part of it. A band on the periphery of a particular scene might have opened for another band a few times, but it's never headlined or gotten their big break. Periphery comes from a Greek word meaning "to carry around."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the May 6, 2026, print edition as 'On the Periphery of ‘Pride and Prejudice’'.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Soberones’ group calls itself Women of the Periphery for the Periphery and does performance art to call attention to violence against women.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2019

A number of acts who have released multiple albums are finally earning their first Grammy nomination, including Demi Lovato, Solange, Blink-182, twenty one pilots, Chance the Rapper, Baroness, Gojira and Periphery.

From Washington Times • Dec. 6, 2016

The result: underground metal luminaries Baroness, French metal band Gojira and prog-metal band Periphery rose from the depths.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2016

Or the Periphery conteineth the diameter three times and almost one seventh of the same diameter.

From The Way To Geometry by Bedwell, William

Related Words

• brink
• fringe
• perimeter
• rim
• verge