peril
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
perils
plural
perils
Britannica Dictionary definition of PERIL
somewhat formal + literary
1
[noncount]
:
the possibility that you will be hurt or killed or that something unpleasant or bad will happen
:
danger
— usually used in the phrase in peril
-
People are unaware of the peril these miners face each day.
-
They put their lives in peril. [=in jeopardy]
-
The species is in peril [=(more commonly) in danger] of dying out.
-
His career is in peril.
2
[count]
:
something that is likely to cause injury, pain, harm, or loss
:
danger
— usually plural
-
She described global warming as “a growing peril.”
-
the perils of childbirth
-
They faced many perils in their journey through the region.
at your (own) peril
— used to say that if you do something you should be aware that it is dangerous and that you could be harmed, injured, punished, etc.
-
No lifeguard is on duty: swim at your own peril. [=at your own risk]
-
Restaurants that ignore the smoking ban do so at their peril.