hazard

haz-ard · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A source of danger or risk; something that may cause harm or injury.

  2. 2.

    A chance or risk of loss or other misfortune.

  3. 3.

    (Golf) An obstacle on a golf course, such as a bunker or water feature.

  4. 4.

    (verb) To venture to do something or put at risk.

Forms

plural: hazards

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    hazard a guess — to make a tentative guess or estimate
  • •
    occupational hazard — a risk or danger inherent to a particular job
  • •
    at hazard — at risk or in danger
  • •
    moral hazard — a situation where one party takes risks because another bears the cost

Related words

Antonyms: safety, security
See also: danger, hazardous, peril, risk
Synonyms: danger, peril, risk, threat

Etymology

From Old French hasard ("game of dice, chance"), possibly from Arabic az-zahr ("the die"). The word entered English in the 13th century initially referring to a dice game, later generalizing to mean any source of risk or danger.