1
: trap entry 1, snare
specifically
: a pit flimsily covered or camouflaged and used to capture and hold animals or people
2
: a hidden or not easily recognized danger or difficulty
Examples of pitfall in a Sentence
buying a house can be full of pitfalls for the unwary
one of the pitfalls of ignorance is that people will also assume you're stupid
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Munn is learning both the joys and pitfalls of being a mother of two.
—
Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
As a former child star, Brian Bonsall knows all too well about the pitfalls of fame.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Katie Mateus, 40, who lived in Cascais when the incident occurred, shared her story on social media, warning others about the potential pitfalls of energy use in Portugal.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
Swerdlow said the plan has been conceived in stages so that existing public-housing tenants will not be even temporarily displaced from their homes — an issue that has been a pitfall for another big county housing redevelopment effort.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
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Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
As a former child star, Brian Bonsall knows all too well about the pitfalls of fame.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Katie Mateus, 40, who lived in Cascais when the incident occurred, shared her story on social media, warning others about the potential pitfalls of energy use in Portugal.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
Swerdlow said the plan has been conceived in stages so that existing public-housing tenants will not be even temporarily displaced from their homes — an issue that has been a pitfall for another big county housing redevelopment effort.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitfall. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pitfall
noun
pit·fall
ˈpit-ˌfȯl 
1
: trap entry 1 sense 1, snare
especially
: a covered or camouflaged pit used to capture animals or people
2
: a danger or difficulty that is hidden or is not easily recognized
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