B2adjective2K

Risky

UK /["/ˈrɪski/"]/US /["/ˈrɪski/"]/

Definition

involving the possibility of something bad happening

In simple words: Something that can cause harm or danger.

Examples

  • Life as an aid worker can be a **risky business** *(= dangerous)*.
  • Even a very good company can be a risky investment if it is overvalued.
  • It's far too risky to generalize from one set of results.
  • It all sounds decidedly risky to me.
  • Predicting the weather is a risky business for farmers.

Usage notes

Use 'risky' when describing actions or decisions that could lead to loss or harm. It's suitable in most contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing.

Grammar pattern

risky + noun

Memory hint

Think of 'risk' plus 'y' — like a risky bet.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • prove
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very

Synonyms

  • dangerous

Antonyms

  • safe
  • secure
  • certain

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'risky' vs 'riskful' (the latter is not commonly used)
  • Using 'risky' as a noun (it's an adjective)
  • Incorrectly spelling 'risky' as 'risquee'