pitfall

noun

pit·​fall ˈpit-ˌfȯl 

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

Synonyms

• booby trap
• catch
• catch-22
• gimmick
• gotcha
• hitch
• joker
• land mine
• snag

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

Beware the pitfalls As exciting as agentic AI with BDI models can be, there are also potential downsides. —Tomas Gorny, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Even Wolfe Herd admitted the pitfalls of dating apps. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 25 June 2025

The post has sparked wider conversation around the design of online educational tools, particularly the pitfalls of user interface design in early-learning programs. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

This interview with independent distribution consultant Annalisa Shoemaker breaks down the considerations that go into planning your own theatrical run and the pitfalls to avoid. —Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pitfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids 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