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
Acton Academy’s growth to over 300 schools showcases the potential for replication but also highlights the pitfalls of decentralized management.
—
Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Right off the bat, Expedition 33 avoids the common pitfall of assigning moves to magic point (MP) values; In most JRPGs, special attacks typically consume MP, and running out means characters are relegated to just doing normal attacks, which can make battles feel dry or lopsided.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025
That said, there are some potential pitfalls to consider.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2025
With virtual schools, a common pitfall is to enroll students in six courses at a time, setting them up for potential failure, Pirowski said.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
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Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Right off the bat, Expedition 33 avoids the common pitfall of assigning moves to magic point (MP) values; In most JRPGs, special attacks typically consume MP, and running out means characters are relegated to just doing normal attacks, which can make battles feel dry or lopsided.
—George Yang, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025
That said, there are some potential pitfalls to consider.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2025
With virtual schools, a common pitfall is to enroll students in six courses at a time, setting them up for potential failure, Pirowski said.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Cite this Entry
“Pitfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitfall. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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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