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
Knowing what to look for—and what to avoid—can help hiring managers find top talent while avoiding pitfalls like unconscious bias or inconsistent standards.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Flight of the Peach soars above these pitfalls, delivering fresh stone fruit flavors from organic California peaches, enhancing the wheat malt base.
—Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Back-to-school shopping could also be stifled by fears of what is to come as economists are already having discussions about how the Christmas season could also face pitfalls with the tariffs.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 23 May 2025
But the potential pitfalls of the head coaching job are evident, too.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
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Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Flight of the Peach soars above these pitfalls, delivering fresh stone fruit flavors from organic California peaches, enhancing the wheat malt base.
—Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Back-to-school shopping could also be stifled by fears of what is to come as economists are already having discussions about how the Christmas season could also face pitfalls with the tariffs.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 23 May 2025
But the potential pitfalls of the head coaching job are evident, too.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 May 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 6 Jun. 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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