Hazard

noun; verb (transitive)

/ˈhæzərd/

A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A disaster-resilient governance framework must distinguish between a natural hazard, which is an inevitable geophysical event, and a disaster, which results only when that hazard meets an unprepared and vulnerable population.

Synonyms

dangerperilriskthreatjeopardymenace

Antonyms

safetysecurityprotectionsafeguard

🌱 Word Family

hazard (v), hazardous (adj), hazardously (adv), hazardousness (n), hazarded (v past)

🔡 Root

Old French hasart = game of dice; Arabic az-zahr = the dice (via French borrowing)

📜 Etymology

From Old French hasart ("a game of dice"), from Arabic az-zahr ("the dice"), reflecting the element of chance and risk inherent in the concept.

🧠 Memory Hook

From Arabic "az-zahr" — the dice. Every time you HAZARD a guess, you are rolling the dice and courting danger.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2024 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2022 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2021 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2016 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2012 — Public Health
Mains 2023 · GS1 · 15 marks — Geography
Mains 2022 · GS3 · 15 marks — Environment and Ecology
Mains 2019 · GS3 · 15 marks — Disaster Management

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Hazard” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚠️ Disaster Management 📖 Seen in: Disaster Management — Framework, Prepa...

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