# rickety

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɹɪk.ɪ.ti/ · frequency rank #42,867

## Definitions
1. Of an object: not strong or sturdy, as because of poor construction or upkeep; not safe or secure.
2. Feeble in the joints; tottering.
3. Affected with or suffering from rickets; rachitic.

## Etymology
From dialectal ricket (“unstable, rickety”) + -y, and/or ricket (“to move noisily and in a reckless way”) + -y.
Alternatively, and perhaps less likely, from rickets + -y.

## Easily confused with
- **Ricky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rickety-vs-ricky)
- **rocket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rickety-vs-rocket)
- **Rickey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rickety-vs-rickey)
- **racket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racket-vs-rickety)
- **rackets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rackets-vs-rickety)
- **Ricketts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ricketts-vs-rickety)

## Common misspellings (11)
`irckety`, `rcikety`, `ricckety`, `ricekty`, `ricketty`, `ricketyy`, `rickeyt`, `rickkety`, `ricktey`, `rikcety`, `rrickety`

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