precipice

[ pres-uh-pis ]

noun

1. a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face.
2. a situation of great peril:

   on the precipice of war.

precipice

/ ˈprɛsɪpɪs /

noun

1. 1. the steep sheer face of a cliff or crag
   2. the cliff or crag itself
2. a precarious situation

Derived Forms

• ˈprecipiced, adjective

Other Words From

• preci·piced adjective
• un·preci·piced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipice¹

1590–1600; < Middle French < Latin praecipitium steep place, equivalent to praecipit- (stem of praeceps ) steep, headlong ( prae- pre- + -cipit-, combining form of caput head; caput ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipice¹

C16: from Latin praecipitium steep place, from praeceps headlong

Example Sentences

On the precipice of turning 40, somewhere halfway through this marathon of a life, I want to exhume what I feel I’ve abandoned and lost.

From Los Angeles Times

The world has gotten even closer to the precipice of a military clash between the nuclear superpowers, with a push to green-light NATO-backed Ukrainian attacks heading deeper into Russia.

From Salon

What does that mean, given that we live on the precipice of an AI revolution?

From Salon

He has pulled back from the precipice before, most notably in the summer, but is back there again.

From BBC

But Wonderland was on the precipice of huge change in terms of drugs being much of the inspiration and cultural change.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bluff
• cliff
• crag