dangerousness

dangerousness — noun

1. how dangerous a person, a situation, or an object is — in other words, the degre

1.nounC1
Definition

how dangerous a person, a situation, or an object is — in other words, the degree to which they could cause injury, damage, or death.

Example

Before the parole hearing, the psychiatrist evaluated the prisoner's dangerousness and wrote a report.

possessive + dangerousness for assessing a person

The dangerousness of the damaged bridge worried residents who used it every day.

the dangerousness of + noun phrase (object)

Common collocations
  • assess dangerousness
  • evaluate dangerousness
  • measure dangerousness
  • judge dangerousness
  • rate dangerousness
  • degree of dangerousness
  • level of dangerousness
  • the dangerousness of
Synonyms
  • peril

    stronger, more dramatic tone; often used in literary or emotional contexts (e.g. 'the peril of the situation')

  • hazard level

    more technical; used in workplace safety or environmental assessments

  • threat level

    focuses on the source of possible harm rather than the degree of danger itself

Antonyms
  • safety

    the state of being free from danger or risk

  • harmlessness

    the quality of being unable to cause harm; rarer in use

Grammar Patterns

the + dangerousness + of + noun phrase

possessive + dangerousness

Usage Note

Typically used in formal, technical, or legal writing. In everyday conversation, speakers more often use phrases such as 'how dangerous something is'.

Common Mistakes

The dangerousness of the dog was clear.
It was clear that the dog was dangerous.
'dangerousness' sounds unnatural with everyday animals; the simpler adjective form is preferred in casual speech.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words relate to possible harm, but each has a different emphasis. Danger (A2) is the broadest term — it refers to any situation where harm could happen ('the danger of crossing a busy street'). Risk (B1) adds the idea of probability or chance ('the risk of developing a disease'). Hazard (B1) points to a specific source of danger, like a chemical or a sharp object ('a fire hazard'). Threat (B2) implies an intention or active source of possible harm ('a threat to national security'). Dangerousness is the most abstract and formal of the five — it measures a property or quality of a person, object, or situation. In everyday English, speakers overwhelmingly use 'how dangerous it is' instead. For example, a safety inspector might write about 'the dangerousness of industrial solvents', while a friend would simply say 'that stuff is really dangerous'.

danger ↗risk ↗hazard ↗threat ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a measure of dangerousness
  • an assessment of dangerousness

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word dangerousness is formed by adding the suffix -ness (which turns adjectives into abstract nouns meaning 'the quality or state of being') to the adjective dangerous. Dangerous entered Middle English from Old French dangereus, which originally meant 'difficult, arrogant, or domineering' — a meaning linked to its Latin root dominus ('lord, master'). Over time, the sense shifted from 'having power over someone' (which could be used to harm) to 'likely to cause harm or injury'. The full form dangerousness first appeared in English around the 1600s.