Risk is the possibility of something bad happening, [1] comprising a level of uncertainty about the effects and implications of an activity, particularly negative and undesirable consequences. [2][3] The impurity of the water is a serious health risk. It was an awful risk to take. Are you prepared to put your children at risk? The benefits of this treatment far outweigh any risks. There are too many risks attendant on such a large investment of money. Definitions of risk range from narrow definitions - risks to people or machinery resulting from hazards - to wide definitions that see risk as any uncertainty of outcome. The diagram at the top of this article shows how risk can be defined in narrow, medium, and broad ways. Risks is an international, scholarly, peer-reviewed, open access journal for research and studies on insurance and financial risk management. Risks is published monthly online by MDPI. A factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger; a hazard: the usual risks of the desert: rattlesnakes, the heat, and lack of water (Frank Clancy). Risk comes from the French for danger. As nouns, risk and danger are close synonyms. The verb risk means to run a danger, in hopes of reward. So risk is similar to gamble. If you're very ill, you might risk a dangerous surgery. We also use risk for money or security. Two types of events are analyzed in risk management: risks and opportunities. Negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Risk management is the systematic process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating threats or uncertainties that can affect your organization. It involves analyzing risks’ likelihood and impact, developing strategies to minimize harm, and monitoring measures’ effectiveness. The meaning of RISK is possibility of loss or injury : peril. How to use risk in a sentence. For a closer look at how risks can cascade across the business, see Reviewing the Five Types of Risk. That article is the better place for the cross-risk view, while this page is meant to help teams use the five categories as a practical operating tool.