hazardous
HA-zer-dus
/ˈhæzərdəs/
Risky or dangerous, especially to health or the environment.
In environmental policy, it specifically refers to substances that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive.
The story behind the word. Surprisingly, 'hazardous' comes from the Old French 'hasard,' a game of chance played with dice. This, in turn, came from the Arabic 'al-zahr,' meaning 'the die.' What started as a gambler's risk evolved into our modern word for any significant danger.
Word relationships
- perilous: Perilous often implies a more immediate, life-threatening physical danger.
- benign: Gentle and kindly; not harmful in effect.
Commonly confused with
- dangerous: Dangerous is a general term, while hazardous is often used for technical or chemical risks.
Word family
- hazard (noun): A danger or risk.
- hazardously (adverb): In a dangerous manner.
Collocations
- hazardous waste
- hazardous materials
- hazardous conditions
Idioms & expressions
- occupational hazard
Example sentences
- "The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal was adopted in 1989." International environmental law. (United Nations Environment Programme)
- "Broken computer monitors contain lead and other hazardous materials that require special handling." Safety warnings.
Memory hook
Think of a 'hazard' as a 'hard-hazard'—a risk that is hard to manage and dangerous to ignore. Danger dice.
When not to use
Avoid using it for minor inconveniences; it implies a significant threat of harm.
Fun facts
- The word 'hazard' originally referred to a specific game of dice mentioned in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.