noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:pĭtʹfôl
UK:/ˈpɪtfɔːl/
US:pĭtʹfäl
US:/ˈpɪtfɔl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P IH1 T F AO2 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, into which the victim is supposed to fall and not be able to get out from.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: literal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: trapping pit
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: trap
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An antipattern.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: antipattern, dark pattern
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Subsidence below ground in a mine, which can cause the ground level above to drop.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, mining
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To trap, snare, or ensnare someone or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive, uncommon
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
a trap in the form of a concealed hole
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pit
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: trap
7
noun
Meaning 7
an unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: booby trap
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: difficulty
History
Etymology
First recorded use in the 14th century from pit + fall in the sense of "pit trap, pit snare", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-. Cognate with German Falle (“trap, snare”).
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
клопка
(klopka)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Catalan:
escull
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Chinese Mandarin:
陷阱
(xiànjǐng)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Danish:
faldgrube
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Danish:
fælde
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Dutch:
valkuil
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Esperanto:
kaptilo
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Finnish:
sudenkuoppa
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Finnish:
vaara
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Finnish:
riski
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
French:
écueil
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
French:
piège
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
German:
Fallstrick
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Ancient Greek:
σιρός
(sirós)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Hungarian:
csapda
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Hungarian:
kelepce
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Hungarian:
buktató
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Irish:
gaiste
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Italian:
pericolo
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Italian:
insidia
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Japanese:
落とし穴
(otoshiana)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Japanese:
落し穴
(otoshiana)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Japanese:
落穴
(otoshiana)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Latin:
fovea
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Norwegian Bokmål:
fallgruve
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fallgruve
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Persian:
مشکل
(moškel)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Persian:
خطر
(xatar)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Portuguese:
cilada
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Portuguese:
armadilha
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Russian:
лову́шка
(lovúška)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
Russian:
западня́
(zapadnjá)
— potential problem, hazard, or danger
