Danger vs Threat

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Danger

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Threat

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

	Danger	Threat
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈdeɪndʒə(r)/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈdeɪndʒər/"]/	🇬🇧 //θrɛt// 🇺🇸 //θrɛt//
Meaning	A situation where something bad can happen.	A person or thing that can cause harm or danger.
Example	The storm brought a danger to the village.	The storm posed a serious threat to the coastal town.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	B2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	big, considerable, enormous, be exposed to, face, be fraught with, await, exist, face somebody, area, point, spot, in danger, in danger of, out of danger, be off the danger list, be on the danger list, big, considerable, enormous, be exposed to, face, be fraught with, await, exist, face somebody, area, point, spot, in danger, in danger of, out of danger, be off the danger list, be on the danger list, big, considerable, enormous, be exposed to, face, be fraught with, await, exist, face somebody, area, point, spot, in danger, in danger of, out of danger, be off the danger list, be on the danger list	credible threat, imminent threat, serious threat, direct threat
Antonyms	safety, security, protection	safety, security
Common mistakes	Confused with 'dangerous' as the same word., Using in positive contexts (danger is negative)., Overusing in casual dialogues, leading to ambiguity.	Confused with 'threaten', which is a verb., Overuse 'threat' when referring to minor inconveniences.
Usage notes	Used in both written and spoken contexts. Appropriate for discussions about safety, risk, or warnings. Avoid in overly casual conversations.	Used in both formal and informal contexts; often refers to danger from people or situations.

See it in real clips

Stranger Things › S1 E1

He put himself in danger to help the party.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

You're in danger.

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

She says the king is in danger.

Stranger Things › S1 E1

He put himself in danger to help the party.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

You're in danger.

Danger

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind.

Sherlock › S1 E1

I would make some sort of threat,

...but with the Joker's threat, they don't have an option.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind.

Sherlock › S1 E1

I would make some sort of threat,

Threat

Frequently asked questions: Danger vs Threat

What's the difference between Danger and Threat?

Danger: A situation where something bad can happen. Threat: A person or thing that can cause harm or danger.

Which is more advanced: Danger and Threat?

Threat is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Danger and Threat the same CEFR level?

Danger: A2, Threat: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Danger and Threat?

Danger: noun, Threat: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Danger: The storm brought a danger to the village. Threat: The storm posed a serious threat to the coastal town.

Can I use Danger and Threat interchangeably?

Not always. Danger and Threat are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.