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
The fire extinguisher incident was the latest pitfall in a season that, even by Marseille’s own inherently chaotic standards, has stretched the bounds of credibility.
—
Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Of course, the pitfalls of rooting a soap opera in the world of modern football means your supporting characters are at the mercy of the transfer merry-go-round.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
But the latest version of the proposal seemingly sidesteps those political and legal pitfalls.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
There are none of those pitfalls here.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
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Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Of course, the pitfalls of rooting a soap opera in the world of modern football means your supporting characters are at the mercy of the transfer merry-go-round.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
But the latest version of the proposal seemingly sidesteps those political and legal pitfalls.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
There are none of those pitfalls here.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 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 20 May. 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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