ENGLISH
REFERENCE

danger

n. C / U
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈdeɪndʒɝ// UK //dˈeɪndʒɐ// dan·ger Archaic General-service Vulgar

n. the possibility that someone will be harmed or killed. It can also mean a person or thing that is likely to cause trouble or harm.

n. the possibility of suffering harm or injury; a person or thing likely to cause harm or injury.


SIMPLE

The sign warns people about the danger of falling rocks.

CONTEXTUAL

Firefighters often put their lives in danger to save people trapped inside burning buildings.

COMPLEX

The primary danger of the current economic policy lies in its failure to address the widening gap between urban and rural infrastructure development.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English daunger (“power, dominion, peril”), from Anglo-Norman dangier, from Old French dangier, alteration of Old French dongier (due to association with Latin damnum (“damage”)) from Vulgar Latin *dominārium (“authority, power”) from Latin dominus (“lord, master”). Displaced native Old English frēcennes.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general state of being at risk; countable when referring to specific threats or hazards.

Pitfall

He is in a dangerHe is in dangerWhen used in the fixed phrase 'in danger' to describe a state of risk, the noun is uncountable and does not take an article.

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