adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dangerous
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English da(u)ngerous “domineering, fraught with danger,” from Old French dangereus “threatening, difficult,” equivalent to dangier ( see danger) + -eus -ous
Explanation
Use the word dangerous to describe anything that can potentially cause serious harm, like a snarling pit bull or an icy, treacherous road. The earliest meaning of the word dangerous was "difficult or arrogant." When Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales" in the 1300s, he used dangerous to mean "hard to please." Gradually the meaning changed, so that by the late fifteenth century, dangerous meant "liable to cause hurt" or "risky." Just as popular were two other danger-related words that we don't use anymore today: dangersome and dangerful, which at the time could be used interchangeably with dangerous.
Vocabulary lists containing dangerous
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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.
When it comes to potentially dangerous weather, airline pilots can blame air-traffic controllers or company dispatchers for not letting them fly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Noting that more fighting would affect food and energy security, he added, “The second round will be more dangerous, more destructive and it will lead to nowhere.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
"This is a dangerous fight," Paul said in a social media video.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
After all, the whole point of a complaint is to get off the street someone who is potentially dangerous or likely to disappear.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026
‘He can’t come. We can’t risk it. This mission is already dangerous enough.’
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
