periphery

noun

pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈri-f(ə-)rē How to pronounce periphery (audio)
plural peripheries
1
: the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve
also : the perimeter of a polygon
2
: the external boundary or surface of a body
3
a
: the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center : confines
b
: an area lying beyond the strict limits of a thing

Examples of periphery in a Sentence

the dogs are confined by an invisible electronic fence that runs along the periphery of the yard
Recent Examples on the Web Their focus was on controlling the periphery of urban areas. Ben Wedeman, CNN, 10 Oct. 2023 So much of the discussion was focused on concerns and promises outside the periphery—the most extreme dangers and benefits of AI—rather than on adopting a clear-eyed understanding of the here and now. Inioluwa Deborah Raji, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2023 Detainees and advocates have long regarded the boat as a grim vestige of mass incarceration, an enduring symbol of the city’s failures to reform dangerous jails that exist on the periphery of New York, largely out of sight of most residents and tourists. Jake Offenhartz, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2023 Until now, short video clips released by the IDF mostly show tanks and troops operating on the periphery of Gaza, mainly in farmlands and the edges of urban areas. William Booth, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023 Even as his business endeavors progressed, Momeni stayed on the periphery of the city’s party circuit, confining his social life to gatherings with close friends at his home or at music festivals. Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023 Both men grew up on the metropolitan periphery: Joel in Hicksville, Long Island, and Springsteen in Freehold, N.J. TIME, 13 Oct. 2023 On either periphery of that little jet of winds, small eddies of vorticity, or spin, were able to roll away. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023 Stars around a galaxy’s periphery were expected to orbit at a more leisurely pace than those closer in, much like how Neptune meanders around our sun every 165 years while Mercury zips about in 88 days. Adam Mann, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'periphery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French peripherie, from Late Latin peripheria, from Greek periphereia, from peripherein to carry around, from peri- + pherein to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of periphery was circa 1568

Dictionary Entries Near periphery

Cite this Entry

“Periphery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periphery. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

periphery

noun
pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈrif-(ə-)rē How to pronounce periphery (audio)
plural peripheries
1
: the boundary or surface of a body or figure
2
: the outer or outermost part

Medical Definition

periphery

noun
pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈrif-(ə-)rē How to pronounce periphery (audio)
plural peripheries
1
: the outward bounds of something as distinguished from its internal regions or center
2
: the regions (as the sense organs, the muscles, or the viscera) in which nerves terminate

More from Merriam-Webster on periphery

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