English Meaning & Definitions
The outer limits or edge of an area or object.
- “New houses were built on the periphery of the historic town.”
- “A faint light shone on the periphery of the dark forest.”
A marginal or secondary position in a group, activity, or institution rather than the center or main focus.
- “He remained on the periphery of political power for decades.”
- “Art and music programs were pushed to the periphery of the school curriculum.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “periphery”.
Derived from the Late Latin 'peripheria', from the Greek 'peripheria' meaning 'revelation, circuit, perimeter', formed by combining 'peri-' (around, about) and 'pherein' (to bear, carry). The word originally referred to the outer boundary of a geometrical circle or curve before broadening to describe the outer edge or fringe of any physical or abstract area.
Think of 'peri' like 'perimeter'—both deal with the outer edge or boundary of something.
Frequently Asked Questions About “periphery”
1. What is the meaning of “periphery” in English?
In English, periphery (noun) is defined as: “The outer limits or edge of an area or object.”.
2. How do you use “periphery” in a sentence?
“New houses were built on the periphery of the historic town.”
3. What are English synonyms of “periphery”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “periphery”?
Derived from the Late Latin 'peripheria', from the Greek 'peripheria' meaning 'revelation, circuit, perimeter', formed by combining 'peri-' (around, about) and 'pherein' (to bear, carry). The word originally referred to the outer boundary of a geometrical circle or curve before broadening to describe the outer edge or fringe of any physical or abstract area.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.