danger

[ deyn-jer ]

noun

1. liability or exposure to harm or injury; risk; peril.
2. an instance or cause of peril; menace.
3. Obsolete. power; jurisdiction; domain.

danger

/ ˈdeɪndʒə /

noun

1. the state of being vulnerable to injury, loss, or evil; risk
2. a person or thing that may cause injury, pain, etc
3. obsolete.
   power
4. in danger of
   liable to
5. on the danger list
   critically ill in hospital

Derived Forms

• ˈdangerless, adjective

Other Words From

• danger·less adjective
• super·danger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of danger¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English da(u)nger, from Anglo-French, Old French dangier, alteration of dongier (by influence of dam damage ), from Vulgar Latin domniārium (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin domini(um) dominion + -ārium (neuter of -ārius -ary )

Word History and Origins

Origin of danger¹

C13: daunger power, hence power to inflict injury, from Old French dongier (from Latin dominium ownership) blended with Old French dam injury, from Latin damnum

Synonym Study

Danger, hazard, peril, jeopardy imply harm that one may encounter. Danger is the general word for liability to all kinds of injury or evil consequences, either near at hand and certain, or remote and doubtful: to be in danger of being killed. Hazard suggests a danger that one can foresee but cannot avoid: A mountain climber is exposed to many hazards. Peril usually denotes great and imminent danger: The passengers on the disabled ship were in great peril. Jeopardy, a less common word, has essentially the same meaning as peril, but emphasizes exposure to the chances of a situation: To save his friend he put his life in jeopardy.

Example Sentences

But having proved himself in this very British subgenre, as in so many other types of roles, Kinnear does risk the danger, as Sewell, Strong and others have faced, of being typecast.

From Los Angeles Times

Several Western governments updated their advice about alcohol dangers in South-East Asia on their consulate and travel pages this week.

From BBC

The only danger for the Cannes films is that they could peak too soon.”

From Los Angeles Times

After liver and kidney function tests and time on a drip, Ms Roberts was allowed to go home, but she said she wanted others to be aware of the dangers.

From BBC

One of campaigners' main concerns in regards to landmines is the danger these weapons present to civilians, killing indiscriminately as they are buried underground or scattered on the surface.

From BBC

Related Words

• crisis
• emergency
• exposure
• insecurity
• instability
• jeopardy
• menace
• peril
• pitfall
• possibility
• probability
• risk
• threat
• uncertainty
• vulnerability