Precarious: meaning, definitions and examples

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precarious

 

[ prɪˈkɛːrɪəs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

living conditions

Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

Synonyms

perilous, risky, uncertain, unstable

Examples of usage

  • The bridge was swaying in the wind, making it feel precarious to cross.
  • She lived in a precarious apartment building that was in danger of collapsing.
  • The hikers carefully navigated the precarious mountain trail.
  • His job security was precarious due to the company's financial instability.
Context #2 | Adjective

situation

Not securely held or in position; dependent on chance; uncertain.

Synonyms

perilous, uncertain, unstable

Examples of usage

  • The country's economy was in a precarious state after the financial crisis.
  • The ceasefire between the two warring factions was precarious and could be broken at any moment.

Translations

Translations of the word "precarious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 precário

🇮🇳 अस्थिर

🇩🇪 prekär

🇮🇩 rawan

🇺🇦 невизначений

🇵🇱 niepewny

🇯🇵 不安定な

🇫🇷 précaire

🇪🇸 precario

🇹🇷 güvencesiz

🇰🇷 불안정한

🇸🇦 غير مستقر

🇨🇿 nejistý

🇸🇰 nejistý

🇨🇳 不稳定的

🇸🇮 negotov

🇮🇸 óstöðugur

🇰🇿 тұрақсыз

🇬🇪 უცნობი

🇦🇿 qeyri-sabit

🇲🇽 precario

Word origin

The word 'precarious' comes from the Latin word 'precarius', meaning 'obtained by entreaty'. It evolved to mean 'dependent on another's will' or 'held by favour'. Over time, it took on the sense of 'uncertain' or 'risky'. The modern usage of 'precarious' reflects the idea of something being in a dangerous or uncertain position.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,698, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.