rickety

Rickety is an adjective used to describe objects or structures that are poorly made, in poor repair, or so worn that they are unstable and likely to collapse or fail with use. It can also be applied figuratively to systems, plans, or arrangements that are precarious or inadequately supported.

Common examples include a rickety chair, a rickety ladder, or a rickety bridge. A house with creaking floors and loose stairs may be described as rickety. In non-physical contexts, commentators may refer to a rickety economy, a rickety alliance, or a rickety argument, highlighting instability or unreliability rather than outright failure.

The exact origin of the word is unclear, but rickety dates from the early modern period. It is generally connected to the idea of a rick or stack that is poorly supported, with the -ety suffix producing an adjective.

Rickety differs from ramshackle in stressing weak construction and the risk of collapse rather than sheer disorder. It is often associated with age, wear, or makeshift repairs. When describing people, the term can be pejorative or insulting, so it is used cautiously or avoided in formal contexts. Related terms include shaky, unstable, dilapidated, and decrepit.