A statement or situation that suggests harm or danger might happen. It can be a promise to hurt someone or something that could cause serious trouble.
From Old English 'þrēat' meaning 'oppression, pressure, trouble.' It originally focused more on force or constraint than on spoken warnings. Over time, the meaning narrowed toward the idea of promised or possible harm.
A threat is powerful even if nothing happens—your brain reacts to the possibility of harm almost as strongly as to real harm. That’s why 'threat levels' and 'security threats' change behavior long before any attack. The word sits at the border between fear and reality.
The concept of 'threat' has been gendered in practice, with women, especially women of color, often mischaracterized as threats in policing, workplace, and public-space contexts. Conversely, threats against women’s safety have historically been minimized or normalized.
Use 'threat' precisely and avoid stereotyping any gender as inherently more threatening or more responsible for managing threats. Be specific about behaviors or risks rather than labeling groups.
["risk","danger","hazard","menace (for literary tone)"]
Women and gender-diverse advocates have been central in redefining threats to include domestic and gender-based violence, stalking, and online harassment, pushing institutions to take these seriously.
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