dangerous, hazardous, precarious, perilous, risky mean bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury. dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

It's risky to buy a car without some good advice. We shouldn't go there. It's too risky. Teenagers often engage in risky behavior.

Definition of risky adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

(a person, thing etc which causes or could cause) danger or possible loss or injury.

risky, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 risk•y (ris′ kē), adj., risk•i•er, risk•i•est. attended with or involving risk; hazardous: a risky undertaking.

Jan 20, 2026 · Adjective risky (comparative riskier, superlative riskiest) Dangerous, involving risks.

RISKY definition: attended with or involving risk; hazardous. See examples of risky used in a sentence.

Risky refers to a situation or action that involves a high probability of danger, loss, harm, failure, or any negative outcome. It denotes potential exposure to harm or danger.

If an activity or action is risky, it is dangerous or likely to fail. Investing in airlines is a very risky business.