precarious
prih-KAIR-ee-us
/prɪˈkeəriəs/
Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall, collapse, or fail; uncertain and vulnerable.
In economics, specifically describes gig-work, short-term contracts, or informal jobs lacking stability, benefits, or safety nets.
The story behind the word. In Roman law, 'precarium' was land granted purely at the pleasure of the owner. Because tenant rights depended entirely on constant entreaty and prayer to the landlord, the agreement was inherently unstable and could end at any second.
Word relationships
- insecure: Insecure can refer to personal psychological doubt; precarious describes external structural instability.
- perilous: Perilous emphasizes immediate physical danger, while precarious emphasizes economic or physical instability.
- stable: Firmly established and unlikely to change or deteriorate.
- secure: Free from danger, risk, or job loss.
Commonly confused with
- precious: Precious means highly valuable; precarious means unstable and dangerously uncertain.
Word family
- precariously (adverb): In a way that is not securely held or settled.
- precariousness (noun): The state of being uncertain, unstable, or unsafe.
Collocations
- precarious employment
- precarious situation
- precarious labor
- precarious balance
Idioms & expressions
- skating on thin ice (operating in a dangerous or precarious situation)
- hanging by a thread (in a dangerously unstable state)
Example sentences
- "Gig economy workers often struggle with precarious employment characterized by unpredictable hours and lack of health benefits." Labor Market Conditions
- "The startup found itself in a precarious financial state after two venture capital backers unexpectedly withdrew funding." Corporate Finance
Memory hook
PRECARIOUS situations leave you PRAYing (prex) for safety and job security. Precarious = Relying on prayer.
When not to use
Do not use for permanent, protected civil-service employment.
Fun facts
- Sociologists recently coined the term 'precariat' (a blend of precarious + proletariat) to describe the social class of workers trapped in temporary, unstable jobs.
Related words
Explore more words
contingent, underprivileged, vulnerable, volatile, capricious, impecunious
Also appears in
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