ótryggari

Ótryggari is an Icelandic comparative adjective meaning "more insecure" or "less secure." It is used to describe situations, conditions, or statuses that involve greater risk, uncertainty, or lack of protection than another reference point. The term is formed from the base adjective tryggur (safe, secure) with the negating prefix ó- to indicate insecurity, and the suffix -ari to express the comparative degree. The corresponding superlative form is typically ótryggastur.

The word often appears in discussions of social and economic conditions, such as employment security, housing, finances, or public safety. In economic or policy analyses one might speak of a ótryggari vinnutími or a ótryggari vinnumarkaður to describe more precarious working conditions or a more insecure labor market compared with a previous period. The term can refer to objective indicators of risk as well as to subjective perceptions of insecurity.

Usage notes emphasize that, as with many Icelandic adjectives, the form adjusts to gender and number in practice, but ótryggari generally functions as the standard comparative form of ótryggur. It conveys a sense of diminishing protection or stability in the relevant domain.

See also: tryggur, ótryggur, óöruggur. Examples include statements like “Launakjörin eru ótryggari en áður” and “Vinnumarkaðurinn hefur orðið ótryggari á síðustu árum,” illustrating its application to economic and social contexts.