precariat

[ pri-kair-ee-uht ]

noun

1. the class of people whose income is so irregular or insecure as to adversely affect both their material and psychological well-being:

   Once a corporate executive, now a struggling freelancer, he was wholly unprepared to join the precariat.

Word History and Origins

Origin of precariat¹

First recorded in 1955–60; blend of precar(ious) ( def ) and (proletar)iat ( def ); salariat ( def )

Example Sentences

We the people, we the economic system, we the precariat are depressed.

From The Daily Beast