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
The biggest pitfall is treating charging as an isolated project.
—
Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
By their own admission, French and the Orioles coaching staff were late in identifying the pitfalls that led to Morton’s early struggles this season.
—Said Bravo, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
In addition to the many pitfalls of online dating, Gen Z is also having to navigate a dating landscape marked by steep political polarization between men and women.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Lawmakers and technology leaders alike could address this anxiety by better communicating the pitfalls and potential of AI, and take seriously the concerns of the public.
—Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitfall
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
By their own admission, French and the Orioles coaching staff were late in identifying the pitfalls that led to Morton’s early struggles this season.
—Said Bravo, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
In addition to the many pitfalls of online dating, Gen Z is also having to navigate a dating landscape marked by steep political polarization between men and women.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Lawmakers and technology leaders alike could address this anxiety by better communicating the pitfalls and potential of AI, and take seriously the concerns of the public.
—Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 17 July 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 29 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share