periphery

noun

pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈri-f(ə-)rē 

plural peripheries

1

: the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve

also : the perimeter of a polygon

2

: the external boundary or surface of a body

3

a

: the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center : confines

b

: an area lying beyond the strict limits of a thing

Synonyms

• border
• borderline
• bound
• boundary
• brim
• circumference
• compass
• confines
• edge
• edging
• end
• frame
• fringe
• hem
• margin
• perimeter
• rim
• skirt
• skirting
• verge

Examples of periphery in a Sentence

the dogs are confined by an invisible electronic fence that runs along the periphery of the yard

Recent Examples on the Web

More on the periphery is the character of Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), a hospital cook plagued with housing issues. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

His Cubs did bounce back from their long summer swoon to the periphery of the wild-card race, finding themselves three games out of the third spot at the start of September. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2024

Baker cuts to conflicted close-ups of Igor, underscoring his pangs of conscience on the periphery of the plot. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024

Some of the greatest crime hot spots are in places on the periphery between areas of affluence and areas of deprivation. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French peripherie, from Late Latin peripheria, from Greek periphereia, from peripherein to carry around, from peri- + pherein to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

periphery

noun

pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈrif-(ə-)rē 

plural peripheries

1

: the boundary or surface of a body or figure

2

: the outer or outermost part

Medical Definition

periphery

noun

pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈrif-(ə-)rē 

plural peripheries

1

: the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center

2

: the regions (as the sense organs, the muscles, or the viscera) in which nerves terminate