Word of the Day: PRECARITY

Insecurity or uncertainty

precarity (noun) - a lack of social or economic certainty or predictability; a state of persistent employment or income insecurity [pri-kair-i-tee]

BREAKDOWN: PREC- (to ask or entreat) + -AR (pertaining to) + -ITY (state of)

• precariousness represents a more general state of instability, uncertainty, or risk

• precarious means unstable, insecure, or risky

• precariat describes a social class of individuals for whom employment and income are insecure

See also: imprecation

“Workers are desperate for more autonomy over their lives. They crave more balance and less precarity. They also, crucially, want to work. But they want to work for places that treat them as human beings and that invest in them and their futures.” —Anne Helen Petersen

[Fun Word Friday introduces more advanced or technical words that are based on word roots. Yes, these words may still be tested on standardized exams. Try to use this word in a sentence today!]