adj
Uncommon
peripheral
puh-RIHFRL
Peripheral (adj) means Located on the outer edge or boundary, rather than at the center. Example: “She noticed movement in her peripheral vision.”
adj
1
Located on the outer edge or boundary, rather than at the center.
"She noticed movement in her peripheral vision."
"The peripheral areas of the park are quieter than the centre."
"Traffic is lighter on the peripheral roads around the town."
2
Of minor importance; not central to the main issue.
"That detail is peripheral to the main argument."
"Colour choices are peripheral to the real problem with the design."
"Let us skip the peripheral issues and focus on the budget."
noun
1
A device connected to a computer but not part of its core hardware, such as a printer or keyboard.
"He plugged in a new keyboard and other peripherals."
"A printer is a common peripheral for a home computer."
"The laptop has only two ports, so I must choose which peripheral to connect."
How to use peripheral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOn the edge rather than the center — literally (peripheral vision) or in importance (a peripheral concern), or a plug-in computer device.
Common pairings
peripheral vision
peripheral device
peripheral issue
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Word forms
- Plural
- peripherals
- Comparative
- more peripheral
- Superlative
- most peripheral
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She noticed movement in her _____ vision.
Etymology
From periphery + -al, ultimately from Greek peripherēs ("carried around, revolving").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for peripheral
See all rhymes for peripheral →Frequently asked questions
What does “peripheral” mean?
The word “peripheral” means located on the outer edge or boundary, rather than at the center. In plain terms, on the edge rather than the center — literally (peripheral vision) or in importance (a peripheral concern), or a plug-in computer device.
How do you pronounce “peripheral”?
“Peripheral” is pronounced puh-RIHFRL (/pəˈɹɪf(ə)ɹ(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “peripheral” in a sentence?
Here is “peripheral” used in a sentence: “She noticed movement in her peripheral vision.”
What is another word for “peripheral”?
Words with a similar meaning to “peripheral” include peripheral device.
What part of speech is “peripheral”?
Depending on how it is used, “peripheral” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “peripheral” come from?
The word “peripheral” comes from Greek. From periphery + -al, ultimately from Greek peripherēs ("carried around, revolving").
Is “peripheral” a common word?
“Peripheral” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “peripheral” have?
“Peripheral” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: located on the outer edge or boundary, rather than at the center.
What is the difference between peripheral and central?
Peripheral describes something located on the outer edge or boundary, or of minor importance, while central describes something at the core, both physically and in terms of significance.
What counts as a computer peripheral?
A computer peripheral is any device connected to a computer but not part of its core hardware, such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or external hard drive.
