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

These techniques challenge decision-makers to think through multiple perspectives, consider potential pitfalls, and avoid the simplistic narratives that hindsight bias promotes. —Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024

Weekend Brief spoke with a number of players and observers in the worlds in which Google operates to learn about the problems, possibilities, and potential pitfalls of ending Google’s upper hand. —Peter Green, Quartz, 21 Sep. 2024

Avoiding pitfalls Choosing the right trustee is important. —Hannah Frances Johansson, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024

Well, the pitfall is the frustration of being pulled out of the storyline and put into another world — into other characters or time. —Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 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