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
Hims hair loss pros and cons There are many potential perks and pitfalls to using Hims for hair loss.
—
Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
But Lynch's remarks reinforce the pitfalls of trying to sidestep drawdowns by making dramatic moves.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
That’s because this approach avoids the pitfalls of previous gun control attempts.
—Marcia Zug, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The Nerones hope to avoid the many pitfalls by doing extensive research before jumping in.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
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Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
But Lynch's remarks reinforce the pitfalls of trying to sidestep drawdowns by making dramatic moves.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
That’s because this approach avoids the pitfalls of previous gun control attempts.
—Marcia Zug, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The Nerones hope to avoid the many pitfalls by doing extensive research before jumping in.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitfall. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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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