periphery

noun

pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈri-f(ə-)rē 

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

Synonyms of periphery

• perimeter
• edge
• confines
• circumference
• boundary
• border
• edging

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

There was a ficus tree directly next to the spa deck, a white hawk flying just below the clouds, and the leaves of a cecropia tree, where sloths typically sleep, peeking into my periphery. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

A number of presences, including Hunter Schafer‘s busybody assistant and Kaia Gerber’s entourage hanger-on, flit about on the periphery while the leads conversationally duke it out. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026

The slightly heavier uranium-238 moves to the periphery of the centrifuge, allowing the uranium-235 to be collected in the center. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026

By providing more transit alternatives outside the city, the project should help preserve her car reductions in central Paris and perhaps inspire others like it on the periphery. —Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026

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

Kids Definition

periphery

noun

pe·​riph·​ery pə-ˈrif-(ə-)rē 

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 

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