Peril vs. Hazard — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 4, 2024
"Peril" refers to serious and immediate danger, often involving personal risk; "hazard" denotes a potential source of danger, generally external and possibly controlled or mitigated.
Difference Between Peril and Hazard
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Peril" specifically implies imminent danger that threatens safety or life, highlighting a sense of urgency and potential harm. Whereas "hazard" is a condition or circumstance that increases the risk of harm but might not necessarily lead to an immediate threat.
In insurance terminology, "peril" is used to describe events like fire, theft, or natural disasters that could result in significant losses. On the other hand, "hazard" refers to factors that increase the likelihood or potential severity of a loss, such as icy roads or unsecured property.
"Peril" often conveys a scenario where the danger is already occurring or is imminent. In contrast, "hazard" suggests a setup or a state that could lead to a perilous outcome if not managed or avoided.
For instance, during a hurricane, the storm itself represents a peril due to its immediate and severe threat to life and property. Meanwhile, living in a flood-prone area is a hazard; it’s a condition that increases the risk during storms but does not inherently harm until an event like a hurricane occurs.
In daily communication, people might use "peril" to describe situations involving serious, immediate risk, such as being trapped in a burning building. Conversely, "hazard" might be used more broadly to refer to potential dangers like a slippery floor or an exposed electrical wire.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Immediate and serious danger or risk
A potential source of danger
Nature of Risk
Imminent and direct
Potential and indirect
Usage in Context
Urgent scenarios (e.g., natural disasters)
Conditions that could lead to danger
Examples
Earthquake, flood, fire
Slippery floors, exposed wires, icy roads
Impact on Decision
Often leads to immediate action
Encourages caution and preventive measures
Compare with Definitions
Peril
Situation that requires urgent attention to avoid danger.
The hikers found themselves in peril when the trail was blocked.
Hazard
Condition that makes an accident more likely.
Ice on the road is a major driving hazard.
Peril
Serious and immediate danger.
The sailors faced the peril of stormy seas.
Hazard
A physical or chemical agent that is potentially dangerous.
Asbestos is known to be a serious occupational hazard.
Peril
Condition of being in immediate danger.
They evacuated the building in peril due to the fire.
Hazard
An obstacle or risk in a particular environment.
The broken glass on the playground is a hazard to children.
Peril
A cause of risk that might lead to harm.
The peril of war loomed over the region.
Hazard
A potential source of harm or adverse health effect.
Smoking is a significant health hazard.
Peril
Insurance term for specific risks covered by a policy.
Floods are considered a covered peril in her insurance policy.
Hazard
Something that increases the risk of danger.
The unmarked construction site posed a hazard.
Peril
Put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position
Hazard
A hazard is a potential source of harm. Substances, events, or circumstances can constitute hazards when their nature would allow them, even just theoretically, to cause damage to health, life, property, or any other interest of value.
Peril
Imminent danger
A sign warning of the peril of falling rocks.
Hazard
A chance of being injured or harmed
Space travel is full of hazards.
Peril
Exposure to the risk of harm or loss
In peril of losing his savings.
Hazard
Risk or danger
A high degree of hazard.
Peril
Something that endangers or involves risk
Couldn't avoid the perils of the desert.
Hazard
A possible source of danger
This room is a fire hazard.
Peril
To expose to danger or the chance of injury; imperil.
Hazard
(Games) A game played with dice that is a forerunner of craps and was especially popular in England in the 1600s and 1700s.
Peril
A situation of serious and immediate danger.
Your life is in peril.
Hazard
(Sports) An obstacle, such as a sand trap, found on a golf course.
Peril
Something that causes, contains, or presents danger.
The perils of the jungle (animals and insects, weather, etc.)
Hazard
(Archaic) Chance or an accident.
Peril
(insurance) An event which causes a loss, or the risk of a specific such event.
Hazard
To expose to danger or risk.
Peril
(transitive) To cause to be in danger; to imperil; to risk.
Hazard
To venture (something)
Hazard a guess.
Peril
Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction.
In perils of waters, in perils of robbers.
Adventure hardWith peril great achieved.
Hazard
To express at the risk of denial, criticism, or censure
"The wise young captain ... hazarded to the lieutenant-colonel that the enemy's infantry would probably soon attack the hill" (Stephen Crane).
Peril
To expose to danger; to hazard; to risk; as, to peril one's life.
Hazard
The chance of suffering harm; danger, peril, risk of loss.
He encountered the enemy at the hazard of his reputation and life.
Peril
To be in danger.
Hazard
An obstacle or other feature which causes risk or danger; originally in sports, and now applied more generally.
The video game involves guiding a character on a skateboard past all kinds of hazards.
Peril
A source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune;
Drinking alcohol is a health hazard
Hazard
(in driving a vehicle) An obstacle or other feature that presents a risk or danger that justifies the driver in taking action to avoid it.
Peril
A state of danger involving risk
Hazard
(golf) A sand or water obstacle on a golf course.
Peril
A venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury;
He saw the rewards but not the risks of crime
There was a danger he would do the wrong thing
Hazard
(billiards) The act of potting a ball, whether the object ball (winning hazard) or the player's ball (losing hazard).
Peril
Pose a threat to; present a danger to;
The pollution is endangering the crops
Hazard
(historical) A game of chance played with dice, usually for monetary stakes; popular mainly from 14th c. to 19th c.
Hazard
Chance.
Hazard
(obsolete) Anything that is hazarded or risked, such as a stake in gambling.
Hazard
(tennis) The side of the court into which the ball is served.
Hazard
(programming) A problem with the instruction pipeline in CPU microarchitectures when the next instruction cannot execute in the following clock cycle, potentially leading to incorrect results.
Hazard
To expose to chance; to take a risk.
Hazard
To risk (something); to venture, incur, or bring on.
I'll hazard a guess.
Hazard
A game of chance played with dice.
Hazard
The uncertain result of throwing a die; hence, a fortuitous event; chance; accident; casualty.
I will stand the hazard of the die.
Hazard
Risk; danger; peril; as, he encountered the enemy at the hazard of his reputation and life.
Men are led on from one stage of life to another in a condition of the utmost hazard.
Hazard
Holing a ball, whether the object ball (winning hazard) or the player's ball (losing hazard).
Hazard
Anything that is hazarded or risked, as the stakes in gaming.
Hazard
Any place into which the ball may not be safely played, such as bunkers, furze, water, sand, or other kind of bad ground.
Hazard
To expose to the operation of chance; to put in danger of loss or injury; to venture; to risk.
Men hazard nothing by a course of evangelical obedience.
He hazards his neck to the halter.
Hazard
To venture to incur, or bring on.
I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.
They hazard to cut their feet.
Hazard
To try the chance; to encounter risk or danger.
Hazard
A source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune;
Drinking alcohol is a health hazard
Hazard
An unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another;
Bad luck caused his downfall
We ran into each other by pure chance
Hazard
An obstacle on a golf course
Hazard
Put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation;
I am guessing that the price of real estate will rise again
I cannot pretend to say that you are wrong
Hazard
Put at risk;
I will stake my good reputation for this
Hazard
Take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome;
When you buy these stocks you are gambling
Common Curiosities
Why is it important to understand the difference between peril and hazard?
Understanding the difference helps in risk management, ensuring appropriate measures are taken to prevent hazards from becoming perils.
What are some common perils covered by insurance?
Commonly covered perils include theft, fire, and natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.
What might be considered a hazard in a workplace?
In a workplace, exposed electrical wiring or slippery floors could be considered hazards.
Can a hazard become a peril?
Yes, a hazard can escalate into a peril if the conditions worsen and lead to an immediate threat.
Are all hazards visible?
Not all hazards are visible; some, like carbon monoxide or radiation, are hidden yet potentially very dangerous.
What is the main difference between peril and hazard?
Peril refers to immediate and serious dangers, while hazard indicates conditions that could potentially lead to danger.
Do hazards always lead to emergencies?
Hazards do not always lead to emergencies; however, they increase the risk of emergency situations if left unaddressed.
How do insurance policies differentiate between peril and hazard?
Insurance policies list perils as events that cause direct loss, whereas hazards are seen as factors that increase the likelihood of such losses.
Is a peril always harmful?
Yes, a peril represents a condition where harm is imminent, directly threatening safety or property.
How can hazards be mitigated?
Hazards can be mitigated by identifying risk factors and implementing safety measures and precautions.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
