Definitions and meaning of risk
risk
Alternative forms
Etymology
From earlier risque, from Middle French risque, from Old Italian risco (“risk”) (modern Italian rischio) and rischiare (“to run into danger”). Displaced native Old English pleoh (“risk”) and plēon (“to risk”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɹɪsk/
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- Homophones: RISC, risque (rare dialect)
- Rhymes: -ɪsk
Noun
risk (countable and uncountable, plural risks)
- (uncountable) The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
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- 2006, Trever Ramsey on BBC News website, Exercise 'cuts skin cancer risk' read at [2] on 14 May 2006
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- (uncountable) The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
- (uncountable, economics, business and engineering) The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur.
- 2002, Decisioneering Inc website, What is risk? read at [5] on 14 May 2006
- If there is a 25% chance of running over schedule, costing you a $100 out of your own pocket, that might be a risk you are willing to take. But if you have a 5% chance of running overschedule, knowing that there is a $10,000 penalty, you might be less willing to take that risk.
- (countable) A possible adverse event or outcome.
- Synonyms: danger, peril, hazard
- (insurance) A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
- (countable) A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
- 2006, BBC News website, Farmers warned over skin cancer read at [6] on 14 May 2006
- There was also a "degree of complacency" that the weather in the country was not good enough to present a health risk.
- (banking, finance) A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card).
- (finance) A financial product (typically an investment).
- (insurance) An entity insured by an insurer.
Usage notes
When referring to some possible cause of an adverse effect as "a risk", the default position is that one is referring to how likely it is to cause an adverse effect. Such use is qualified with adjectives that refer to magnitude, such as "major", "large" or "tiny". However, adjectives that refer to quality (such as "good" or "undesirable") indicate that one is referring to how unlikely the adverse effect is, and this usage is invariably restricted to monetary contexts. On the other hand, the former sense may be used in any context (including monetary risks).
Hyponyms
- (formal business and engineering): variance, standard deviation, downside beta
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
risk (third-person singular simple present risks, present participle risking, simple past and past participle risked)
- (transitive) To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
- 2006, Transportation Alternatives website, Rail delays as thieves cut power read at [7] on 14 May 2006
- These people are putting themselves in danger by physically being on or near to the railway lines and risking serious injury.
- (transitive) To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
- 2006, BBC Sport website, Beckham wary over Rooney comeback read at [8] on 14 May 2006
- England captain David Beckham has warned Wayne Rooney not to risk his long-term future by rushing his return from injury.
- (transitive) To incur risk as a result of (doing something).
- 1999, BBC News website, Volunteer of the Month: Andrew Hay McConnell read at [9] on 14 May 2006
- After coming to New York, I decided to risk cycling again.
Usage notes
- This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing). See Appendix:English catenative verbs
Derived terms
Translations
See also
- roll the dice, take a chance
Further reading
-
- Risk in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
- “risk”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- risk in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
- “risk”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- risk on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Anagrams
- Kris, irks, kirs, kris, riks
Czech
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈrɪsk]
- Hyphenation: risk
- Rhymes: -ɪsk
Noun
risk m inan
- (informal) risk
Declension
Related terms
Further reading
- risk in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
- risk in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
- risk in Akademický slovník cizích slov, 1995, at prirucka.ujc.cas.cz
Swedish
Etymology
Borrowed from French risque.
Pronunciation
Noun
risk c
- risk
Declension
Derived terms
- rasrisk
- på egen risk
- riskfaktor
- riskfylld
- riskkapitalist
- riskvillig
- säkerhetsrisk
Related terms
Anagrams
Turkish
Etymology
From French risque. Doublet of riziko.
Pronunciation
Noun
risk (definite accusative riski, plural riskler)
- risk (all senses)
Declension
Source: wiktionary.org