periphery

noun pe·riph·ery \ pə-ˈri-f(ə-)rē \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of periphery

plural -eries

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

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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 of periphery from the Web

Kushner homes in on other inmates, guards, and those on the periphery of the system, like Gordon Hauser, a misguided GED teacher who had already been let go from one prison for getting too close to an inmate.

— caroline leavitt, BostonGlobe.com, "Rachel Kushner offers a version of this American life," 27 Apr. 2018
Around the periphery of the room, jazz singers, piano players and Broadway performers were stationed, ready.

— katherine rosman, New York Times, "There’s No Seder Like a Showbiz Seder," 5 Apr. 2018
As the kids walked around the periphery, they were invited to pluck a few mint leaves and have a nibble.

— leah garchik, San Francisco Chronicle, "Children explore how vegetable superpowers can help the homeless," 27 Mar. 2018
This portion begins with viewers hovering through an inside-the-body void of dark, pink walls before a small detail explodes in the periphery: the nerve beginning to form, spotlit dramatically with cells forming under unrealistically bright light.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "VR headsets have become the new arthouse—the best of SXSW’s fantastic VR festival," 18 Mar. 2018
Floodgates of capital opened, reshaping land on the periphery of cities.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "Why buying a house today is so much harder than in 1950," 10 Apr. 2018
Ax Man was once on the periphery of the Derby trail before falling off after getting caught up in a speed duel leading to a poor performance.

— john cherwa, latimes.com, "Racing! Hoping it's not the last we'll see locally of Justify and Bolt d'Oro," 9 Apr. 2018
Police said that Monday evening's fire on the periphery of Tirana caused damage, but no injuries.

— Fox News, "Albania: Fire burns warehouse district; no injuries reported," 2 Apr. 2018
In many large American and European cities, jobs are moving from downtown to the periphery, and workers increasingly commute from one suburb to another, rather than to and from the centre.

— The Economist, "The new autopiaA chance to transform urban planning," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'periphery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of periphery

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1568

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year