precarity

noun

pre·​car·​i·​ty pri-ˈker-ə-tē How to pronounce precarity (audio)
: the state or condition of being precarious : precariousness
The older brother—Dave—raises the younger one, a responsibility that gives him a perpetual sense of life's urgency and precarity.—Paul Elie
Job precarity can add to a number of social and economic challenges facing millennials including rising personal debts, growing costs of living, shrinking access to pensions and lower retirement savings.—Arif Jetha

Examples of precarity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Covid laid bare an inconvenient truth for us all, which is that the essential workers who power our economy and drive value in the business are also living at a level of economic precarity that is, first and foremost, a moral failing of our society, and second of all, just bad for business. —The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024 Xavier understands the precarity of their situation as Black men in such a world and holds Daniel back from rightfully stomping on this man. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024 Clearly, the business is facing some level of precarity on a systemic level. —Nia Bowers, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024 Together both projects highlight the precarity of authority, as its wielders are easily replaced, and the vulnerability of natural life. —Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precarity 

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French précarité, from précaire "granted or exercised only with the permission of another, insecure, uncertain" (going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin precārius "given as a favor, uncertain, precarious") + -ité -ity

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of precarity was in 1910

Dictionary Entries Near precarity

precariousness

precarity

precarium

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Precarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precarity. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...