an unavoidable danger or risk, even though often foreseeable

The job was full of hazards.

something causing unavoidable danger, peril, risk, or difficulty

the many hazards of the big city.

the absence or lack of predictability; chance; uncertainty

There is an element of hazard in the execution of the most painstaking plans.

Golf . a bunker, sand trap, or the like, constituting an obstacle.

the uncertainty of the result in throwing a die.

a game played with two dice, an earlier and more complicated form of craps.

Court Tennis . any of the winning openings.

(in English billiards) a stroke by which the player pockets the object ball (winning hazard) or his or her own ball after contact with another ball (losing hazard).

to offer (a statement, conjecture, etc.) with the possibility of facing criticism, disapproval, failure, or the like; venture

He hazarded a guess, with trepidation, as to her motives in writing the article.

to put to the risk of being lost; expose to risk

In making the investment, he hazarded all his savings.

to take or run the risk of (a misfortune, penalty, etc.)

Thieves hazard arrest.

to venture upon (anything of doubtful issue)

to hazard a dangerous encounter.

at hazard

at risk; at stake; subject to chance

His reputation was at hazard in his new ventures.

noun

protection , safeguard , safety , assurance , certainty , determination , fact , proof , reality , surety

noun

double trouble , dynamite , endangerment , hot potato , imperilment , jeopardy , peril , risk , risky business , thin ice , threat , accident , adventure , coincidence , fling * , fluke * , go * , hundred-to-one , long shot , lucky break * , lucky hit , misfortune , mishap , possibility , stroke of luck * , toss-up , venture , wager , way the ball bounces , way the cookie crumbles , fluke , fortuity , hap , happenchance , happenstance , fortuitousness , fortune , luck , chance , gamble

verb

adventure , conjecture , dare , endanger , gamble , go for broke , go out on limb , guess , imperil , jeopardize , presume , proffer , skate on thin ice , speculate , stake , submit , suppose , take a plunge , throw out , try , venture , volunteer , wager , compromise , chance , risk , pretend , accident , bet , danger , jeopard , jeopardy , luck , mishap , obstacle , peril , possibility , threat