# precarious

> English word · Adjective · IPA /pɹɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/ · frequency rank #20,463

## Definitions
1. Dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous.
2. Depending on the intention of another.

## Etymology
From Latin precārius (“begged for, obtained by entreaty”), from prex, precis (“prayer”). Compare French précaire, Portuguese precário, and Spanish and Italian precario.

## Easily confused with
- **precious** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precarious-vs-precious)
- **precocious** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/precarious-vs-precocious)

## Common misspellings (14)
`percarious`, `pprecarious`, `prcearious`, `preacrious`, `precairous`, `precariosu`, `precariouss`, `precariuos`, `precaroius`, `precarrious`, `preccarious`, `precraious`, `prrecarious`, `rpecarious`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/precarious