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
Empowering Authentic Voices One of the most common pitfalls in advocacy programs is over-scripting employees.
—
Bradley Keenan, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, the Miami Dolphins faced pitfalls from opposing defenses adjusting to the Dolphins offense of the previous two seasons.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2025
Breaking down the cleaning process into 20 minute sessions and 10 minute break is designed to combat these pitfalls.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2025
The authors provide a nicely balanced view of AI’s prospects and pitfalls.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
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Bradley Keenan, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, the Miami Dolphins faced pitfalls from opposing defenses adjusting to the Dolphins offense of the previous two seasons.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2025
Breaking down the cleaning process into 20 minute sessions and 10 minute break is designed to combat these pitfalls.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2025
The authors provide a nicely balanced view of AI’s prospects and pitfalls.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 June 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 17 Jun. 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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