risk

Etymology

From earlier risque, from Middle French risque, from Old Italian risco (“risk”) (modern Italian rischio) and rischiare (“to run into danger”). Displaced native Old English pleoh (“risk”) and plēon (“to risk”). speculation on earlier roots 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”, verb), in the sense of that which is a danger to boating or shipping; or from Ancient Greek ῥιζικόν (rhizikón, “root, radical, hazard”). A few dictionaries express more certainty. Collins says the Italian risco comes from Ancient Greek ῥίζα (rhíza, “cliff”) due to the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts. The American Heritage says it probably comes from Byzantine Greek ῥιζικό, ριζικό (rhizikó, rizikó, “sustenance obtained by a soldier through his own initiative, fortune”), from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”), from Classical Syriac ܪܘܙܝܩܐ ,ܪܙܩܐ (rezqā, rōzīqā, “daily ration”), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōčig), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōč, “day”), from Old Persian [script needed] (*raučah-), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk-. Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco

noun

1. (uncountable) The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
   There is risk of being brutalized, arrested, imprisoned and tortured, all because I want you to know the truth about this matter.
   What crop(s) to plant, how much area to devote to each crop, and how much risk to take with respect to rainfall during the season are some of the decisions that must be made. 1994, S. I. Bhuiyan, On-farm Reservoir Systems for Rainfed Ricelands, page 36
   2006, Trever Ramsey on BBC News website, Exercise 'cuts skin cancer risk' read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4764535.stm on 14 May 2006
   Risk is everywhere. From tabloid headlines insisting that coffee causes cancer (yesterday, of course, it cured it) to stern government warnings about alcohol and driving, the world is teeming with goblins. For each one there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. Taking regular exercise, coupled with a healthy diet, reduced the risk of several types of cancer. 2013-06-22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 76
   Becoming more aware of the progress that scientists have made on behavioral fronts can reduce the risk that other natural scientists will resort to mystical agential accounts when they exceed the limits of their own disciplinary training. 2012-01, Stephen Ledoux, “Behaviorism at 100”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 60
2. (uncountable) The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
   Will they find the prospect of greater risk a cause for concern, rather than a gift from the right? April 23, 2004, “American Families at Risk”, in The American Prospect
   The decision was also unlawful in disregarding the prospect of greater risk of sexual or physical abuse to girls at a co-educational residential school December 12, 2012, “Hekia Parata will not appeal Salisbury decision”, in Manawatu Standard
   SEAC acknowledged that their recommendation was a somewhat uneasy compromise between the desire to protect the public from a small chance of a big risk and the desire not to ruin an industry, probably unnecessarily. 2006, R. Packer, The Politics of BSE, page 196
3. (uncountable, economics, business and engineering) The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur.
   If there is a 25% chance of running over schedule, costing you a $100 out of your own pocket, that might be a risk you are willing to take. But if you have a 5% chance of running overschedule, knowing that there is a $10,000 penalty, you might be less willing to take that risk. 2002, Decisioneering Inc website, What is risk? read at http://www.decisioneering.com/risk-analysis.html on 14 May 2006
4. (countable) A possible adverse event or outcome.
   1. (insurance) A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
5. (countable) A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
   1. (banking, finance) A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card).
      A good credit rating indicates the customer is a desirable risk.
   2. (finance) A financial product (typically an investment).
      Subprime mortgages are poor risks; especially for a pension scheme.
   3. (insurance) An entity insured by an insurer.

verb

1. (transitive) To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
   These people are putting themselves in danger by physically being on or near to the railway lines and risking serious injury. 2006, Transportation Alternatives website, Rail delays as thieves cut power read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4972476.stm on 14 May 2006
2. (transitive) To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
   England captain David Beckham has warned Wayne Rooney not to risk his long-term future by rushing his return from injury. 2006, BBC Sport website, Beckham wary over Rooney comeback read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/4769433.stm on 14 May 2006
3. (transitive) To incur risk as a result of (doing something).
   After coming to New York, I decided to risk cycling again. 1999, BBC News website, Volunteer of the Month: Andrew Hay McConnell read at https://web.archive.org/web/20060221081946/http://www.transalt.org/press/magazine/994Summer/12volunteer.html on 14 May 2006