pitfall

noun

pit·​fall ˈpit-ˌfȯl 

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

Synonyms

• booby trap
• catch
• catch-22
• gimmick
• gotcha
• hitch
• joker
• land mine
• snag

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

Furthermore, consider engaging experts to supplement internal capabilities, as specialists can help bring best practices and assist organizations with avoiding common pitfalls like misaligned expectations and underestimated budgets and timelines. —Andrei Kasyanau, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Birdwatching tourism in Colombia has so far managed to avoid many of these pitfalls. —Benji Jones, Vox, 3 Jan. 2025

Women have long faced a distinct set of challenges traveling independently in many parts of the world, with potential pitfalls ranging from minor inconveniences to physical danger. —Harriet Baskas, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024

Those who take the annuity can also avoid the potential pitfall of watching their earnings evaporate through bad investments or other financial decisions. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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