risk
Plural: risks
Noun
- a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
- a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury
- "he saw the rewards but not the risks of crime"
- the probability of becoming infected given that exposure to an infectious agent has occurred
- the probability of being exposed to an infectious agent
- The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
- The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
- The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur.
- A possible adverse event or outcome.
- A possible adverse event or outcome.
- A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
- A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
- A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
- A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card).
- A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
- A financial product (typically an investment).
- A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
- An entity insured by an insurer.
Verb
Verb Forms: risked, risking, risks
- To expose to danger, loss, or injury.
- expose to a chance of loss or damage
- "We risked losing a lot of money in this venture"
- "Why risk your life?"
- take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
- To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
- To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
- To incur risk as a result of (doing something).
Examples
- A good credit rating indicates the customer is a desirable risk.
- He decided to "RISK" a challenge, hoping his opponent’s word was invalid.
- Subprime mortgages are poor risks; especially for a pension scheme.
- That man is going to be a big risk once he's out of prison.
- There is risk of being brutalized, arrested, imprisoned and tortured, all because I want you to know the truth about this matter.
- Those stairs are a major risk.
Origin / 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”).
speculation on earlier roots
Most dictionaries consider the etymology of these Italian terms uncertain, but some suggest they perhaps come from Vulgar Latin *resecum (“that which cuts, rock, crag”) (> Medieval Latin resicu), from Latin resecō (“cut off, loose, curtail”, verb), in the sense of that which is a danger to boating or shipping; or from Ancient Greek ῥιζικόν (rhizikón, “root, radical, hazard”).
A few dictionaries express more certainty. Collins says the Italian risco comes from Ancient Greek ῥίζα (rhíza, “cliff”) due to the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts. The American Heritage says it probably comes from Byzantine Greek ῥιζικό, ριζικό (rhizikó, rizikó, “sustenance obtained by a soldier through his own initiative, fortune”), from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”), from Classical Syriac ܪܘܙܝܩܐ ,ܪܙܩܐ (rezqā, rōzīqā, “daily ration”), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōčig), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōč, “day”), from Old Persian [script needed] (*raučah-), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk-.
Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco
Synonyms
adventure, chance, danger, endangerment, gamble, hazard, jeopardy, lay on the line, peril, put on the line, risk of exposure, risk of infection, run a risk, take a chance, take chances, court
Scrabble Score: 8
risk: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordrisk: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
risk: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary