risc: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Academic, Medical, Everyday
Quick answer
What does “risc” mean?
The possibility of something bad or unpleasant happening.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The possibility of something bad or unpleasant happening; a situation involving exposure to danger.
The chance of an investment losing value; a person or thing regarded as a potential hazard or source of danger; in insurance, the possibility of a loss or other adverse event that the insurer agrees to cover.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling differences. Usage is identical in core meaning.
Connotations
Slight difference in financial/business terminology: British English may favour 'at risk' for personal vulnerability, while American English strongly uses it in finance ('risk assessment').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects, but American English shows higher frequency in financial and business media contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “risc” in a Sentence
risk + noun/gerund (risk injury, risk losing)at risk (of)run the risk (of)take a riskpose a risk (to)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “risc” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You risk a fine if you park there.
- She didn't want to risk offending him.
- They risked their lives to save the child.
American English
- Don't risk your health by skipping sleep.
- The company risked a lawsuit.
- He risked it all on one investment.
adverb
British English
- He invested riskily in volatile stocks.
- She drove riskily fast on the wet road.
American English
- They acted riskily without a backup plan.
- The funds were managed riskily.
adjective
British English
- The risky manoeuvre paid off.
- It was a risky business decision.
- Avoid risky behaviours.
American English
- That's a risky move, politically.
- They invested in risky assets.
- Risky sexual conduct can lead to disease.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used extensively in finance, project management, and insurance (e.g., 'credit risk', 'mitigating operational risk').
Academic
Common in fields like economics, medicine, and sociology (e.g., 'risk factors for disease', 'statistical risk').
Everyday
Used to talk about everyday decisions and safety (e.g., 'It's not worth the risk.', 'There's a risk of rain.')
Technical
Precise use in engineering, health & safety, and computing (e.g., 'failure risk analysis', 'security risk').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “risc”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “risc”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “risc”
- Incorrect: 'He risks to lose his job.' Correct: 'He risks losing his job.'
- Incorrect: 'Children in risk.' Correct: 'Children at risk.'
- Incorrect: 'Do it on your risk.' Correct: 'Do it at your own risk.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Danger' refers to an immediate, specific threat to safety. 'Risk' refers to the possibility or probability of a negative event occurring, often calculated or assessed.
Yes, in contexts like finance or innovation, a 'calculated risk' or 'taking a risk' can lead to positive outcomes and is necessary for growth.
The correct preposition is 'at'. For example: 'The building is at risk of collapsing.' or 'Species at risk of extinction.'
Yes, 'risky' is the standard adjective. 'Riskful' is obsolete and not used in modern English.
The possibility of something bad or unpleasant happening.
Risc is usually formal, business, academic, medical, everyday in register.
Risc: in British English it is pronounced /rɪsk/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪsk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “run the risk”
- “at your own risk”
- “risk life and limb”
- “a calculated risk”
- “on the off chance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tightrope walker: 'RISKing' a fall for the Reward. RISK = Rope Is Scary/Killer.
Conceptual Metaphor
RISK IS A BURDEN (carry a risk), RISK IS A COMMODITY (calculate the risk), RISK IS A CONTAINER (filled with risk), RISK IS AN OPPONENT (battle against risk).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'risk' correctly as a verb?