What does periphery mean?
Periphery means the outer edge or boundary of a place, group, or system. In physical descriptions, it refers to the area at the edge of a city, region, or other defined space. More commonly in formal writing, it can describe people or communities that stand outside the main centre of social, political, or economic influence: those on the periphery of government or society may have less access to power and opportunity. The word often suggests marginality or relative separation from the centre, rather than simply an unimportant location. Its Latin-derived form is related to perimeter and peripheral, and its figurative uses are especially frequent in political, sociological, and economic discussion.
nounThe outer edge or limit of an area, group, system, or sphere of activity. It can also refer to people or things situated outside the central or most important part of a group.
- The outer edge or limit of an area, such as a city, region, or physical form.
- The position of people or things outside the central or most important part of a group, institution, or system.
- A group of people considered to be outside the main social, political, or economic centre.
"The village lies on the periphery of the city, far from the busy commercial centre."
"The mountain range forms the western periphery of the region."
"Rural communities on the economic periphery often have fewer employment opportunities than those near major cities."
Used when referring to multiple outer edges, boundaries, or social or economic zones outside a central area or group.
"The country includes several remote regions on the peripheries of the main transport network."
From the Greek words for “around” and “carry,” periphery originally described anything carried around a circle or boundary.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does periphery come from?
The word comes from Latin peripheria, from the Greek peripheria, a noun formed from periphérein, “to carry around.” The underlying elements combine peri- (“around”) with phérein (“to carry”), reflecting the original sense of a circumference or outer boundary. English borrowed the word in the 16th century, and it later developed figurative meanings relating to positions outside a group or centre of activity.
Related word forms
How periphery is actually used
The word is formal and somewhat literary. It is often used metaphorically for social or economic groups that are excluded from a centre of power, influence, or activity. In geographical descriptions, “on the periphery of” commonly means just outside a city or other defined area.