precarity
gb/pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/ us/pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
C2
English
létbizonytalanság, bizonytalanság, sérülékenység
NOUN
C2
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
live in precarity; precarity among [group]; the precarity of [someone's] life/work
Many young adults face precarity even when they have full-time jobs.
Sok fiatal felnőtt létbizonytalansággal küzd akkor is, ha teljes állásban dolgozik.
The pandemic pushed more families into precarity as working hours were cut and rents rose.
A járvány még több családot taszított létbizonytalanságba, mivel csökkent a munkaidő és emelkedtek a lakbérek.
The report links rising precarity to insecure contracts and weak social protections.
Learner examples
Precarity makes it hard to plan for the future.
A létbizonytalanság megnehezíti a jövő tervezését.
Part-time work can bring precarity.
A részmunkaidős munka létbizonytalansággal járhat.
Common mistake:
Precarity is usually uncountable and formal. In everyday speech, people often say insecurity, instability, or a precarious situation.
Meaning
Social or economic insecurity
Collocations
economic precarity
|financial precarity
|job precarity
|employment precarity
|housing precarity
|labor precarity
|worker precarity
|social precarity
|growing precarity
|widespread precarity
Synonyms
insecurity (more general and more common in everyday English)
|
economic insecurity (clearer and less academic when the issue is money or work)
|
vulnerability (emphasizes exposure to harm or hardship)
|
instability (emphasizes lack of steadiness or permanence)
Antonyms
security (a protected and reliable condition)
|
stability (a steady condition that is not likely to change suddenly)
Themes
economy
|work
|society
|inequality
|housing
Definition
a situation in which people do not have stable jobs, money, housing, or social protection
The state of living with persistent social or economic insecurity, especially because work, income, housing, or access to basic services is unstable.
NOUN
C2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
the precarity of [something]
The essay reflects on the precarity of human life in a changing climate.
Az esszé az emberi élet bizonytalanságáról elmélkedik a változó éghajlat idején.
The crisis revealed the precarity of supply chains built with little spare capacity.
A válság feltárta a csekély tartalékokra épülő ellátási láncok sérülékenységét.
Her photographs emphasize the precarity of temporary shelters after the storm.
Learner examples
The storm revealed the precarity of the old buildings.
A vihar megmutatta a régi épületek sérülékenységét.
Common mistake:
For ordinary physical danger or instability, precariousness or a precarious condition often sounds more natural than precarity.
Meaning
General unstable condition
Collocations
the precarity of life
|existential precarity
|political precarity
|institutional precarity
|environmental precarity
|climate precarity
|global precarity
|shared precarity
Synonyms
precariousness (the standard general noun for being precarious)
|
fragility (emphasizes being easily damaged or disrupted)
|
instability (emphasizes being changeable or not secure)
|
uncertainty (emphasizes not knowing what will happen)
Antonyms
stability (a firm, steady, or reliable state)
|
security (a safe or protected state)
Themes
risk
|society
|politics
|environment
Definition
the state of being unsafe, uncertain, or not stable
The condition of being uncertain, unstable, fragile, or likely to fail or be harmed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
precarity
IPA
GB/pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
US/pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
Syllables & stress
pre - car - ity (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pre)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: precarity
- Plural: precarities
Expressions
economic precarity
1/ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
Unstable economic security
a situation in which people do not have a safe and stable economic life
Examples
- Economic precarity has increased in regions where stable manufacturing jobs have disappeared.
- The article describes how medical debt can push families into economic precarity.
- Young workers often connect economic precarity with high rent and insecure contracts.
Learner examples
- Economic precarity makes life stressful for many families.
financial precarity
1/fɪnˈænʃəl pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
Unstable personal finances
not having enough stable money to feel safe or cover important costs
Examples
- Rising food and energy prices have deepened financial precarity for low-income households.
- Even a small emergency can be devastating for people living with financial precarity.
- The survey asked students about debt, savings, and financial precarity.
Learner examples
- Financial precarity can make it hard to pay rent.
housing precarity
1/hˈaʊzɪŋ pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
Unstable housing situation
not having a safe, stable, and affordable place to live
Examples
- Students reported high levels of housing precarity in cities with fast-rising rents.
- The charity works with families experiencing housing precarity after eviction.
- Housing precarity can affect health, school attendance, and job stability.
Learner examples
- Housing precarity means people may lose their homes.
job precarity
1/d͡ʒˈɑb pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
Insecure employment situation
not knowing if your job, pay, or working hours will stay stable
Examples
- Gig workers often describe job precarity as a bigger concern than low pay alone.
- Automation has increased job precarity in some parts of the service sector.
- The union wants new rules to reduce job precarity for temporary staff.
Learner examples
- Job precarity makes workers worry about next month.
labor precarity
1/lˈeɪbɚ pɹˈɛkɑɹɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
Insecure worker conditions
a situation where many workers do not have safe or stable jobs
Examples
- The study examines labor precarity among app-based delivery riders.
- Unions say outsourcing has increased labor precarity across the sector.
- Labor precarity is often linked to short-term contracts and limited benefits.
Learner examples
- Labor precarity is common in some gig-economy jobs.