risky
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does risky mean? Risky describes something that involves risk or hazards, as in Walking a tightrope without a net below is risky. Risky is almost always used to describe an action taken that could lead to negative consequences, such as when you decide not to study for your final exams. Example: Working as a firefighter is a risky but worthwhile job.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of risky
Explanation
Risky things are a little bit dangerous. It would be risky for you to attempt to hike up a mountain in the wintertime without the proper gear. Physically hazardous things are risky, like a risky sky diving trick or a risky airplane landing attempt in high winds. It can also be risky to do something that makes you feel vulnerable, like telling someone how much you like them, or reading your poem in front of an audience. People commonly talk about money using risky too: "I think your brother's food truck would be a risky investment."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Risky behavior mixed with exceptional smarts is a subject near and dear to Elm’s founder, Victor Haghani.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
Risky assets like crypto tend to respond favorably to lower rates.
From Barron's • Dec. 16, 2025
Read archived story: Risky stocks and safe-haven gold are both aiming for records.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 8, 2025
Risky and inefficient, they drop small amounts of food into a desperate population.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024
Risky, I’d say, trying to figure out anybody’s state of mind.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
