precarity

[pri-kair-i-tee]

noun

1. a state of existence in which material provision and psychological wellness are adversely affected by a lack of regular or secure income.

   The precarity that defines this socially vulnerable demographic cannot be ignored.

Word History and Origins

Origin of precarity¹

First recorded in 1955–60; precar(ious) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Democrats are not without blame for this, given that they helped to advance the neoliberal gangster capitalist economic regime of globalization, outsourcing, the financialization of everyday life and society, and a state of permanent economic precarity for the average American — specifically those who do not belong to the moneyed classes.

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“It Was Just an Accident” has revealed more to me in thinking about it, especially about the precarity of everyday manners.

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For all that it deals with systemic racism and economic precarity, “The Payback” is a terrifically fun book that made me laugh out loud at least once every chapter.

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“Bearing witness to what happened was so traumatic and even in a best scenario if the family is reunited it leaves deep scars that last generations. Families are now in a greater place of precarity.”

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This conflation of gender orthodoxy with American prosperity is popular for a frustratingly simple reason: A politics which refuses to engage with a rigorous economic analysis in the face of parabolic wealth and income inequality has no choice but to attribute the creeping void of American precarity to cultural explanations instead.

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When To Use

What is precarity?

Precarity is a state of existence in which someone’s mental health or financial security is out of their control because they don’t have a regular income.A person who cannot find regular work will have a hard time paying their bills. Equally, this could affect their mental health, causing anxiety, worry, anger, and other negative emotions. Someone in this situation is in a precarious, or uncertain, position. They are experiencing precarity.Precarity can also be used to describe businesses and financial markets. For example, if you want to invest in a public company, but the company’s market is somewhat stagnant, your investment might be described as precarious and the market as filled with precarity.Example: In my neighborhood, a lot of people experience precarity and are often looking for work.