risk

Meanings

Noun

• A possible adverse event or outcome
• The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
• The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
• The potential (conventionally negative) effect of an event, determined by combining the likelihood of the event occurring with the effect should it occur.
• An entity insured by an insurer or the specific uncertain events that the insurer underwrites.

Verb

• To incur risk of (something).
• To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
• To incur risk as a result of (doing something).

Related

Narrower meaning words

• variance, standard deviation, downside beta

Origin

• From earlier risque, from Middle French risque, from Italian risco (modern Italian rischio) and rischiare.
• Most dictionaries consider the etymology of these Italian terms uncertain, but some suggest they perhaps come from Vulgar Latin *resicum ("that which cuts, rock, crag") (> Medieval Latin resicu), from Latin resecō ("cut off, loose, curtail"), in the sense of that which is a danger to boating or shipping; or from Ancient Greek ῥιζικόν ("root, radical, hazard").
• A few dictionaries express more certainty. Collins says the Italian risco comes from Ancient Greek ῥίζα ("cliff") due to the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts. The American Heritage says it probably comes from Byzantine Greek ῥιζικό, from Arabic رِزْق, from Classical Syriac ܪܙܩܐ, from Middle Persian, from Middle Persian, from Old Persian, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk-.
• Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco