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Definition of rickety

rickety

/ˈrɪk.ə.ti/
rick · et · y
Adverb:ricketily
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rickety Lexical Profile

rickety Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Poorly made, loose-jointed, and likely to collapse; shaky and unstable (especially of furniture, buildings, or vehicles).

Example

"We carefully climbed the rickety wooden stairs leading up to the old attic."

2

Physically weak, frail, or unsteady in the joints, either from advanced age or from the bone disease rickets.

Example

"The elderly hound rose slowly on his rickety legs to greet the visitors."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for rickety

• Nearby Words

ricinus
rick
rickets
rickety
rickshaw
ricochet
ricotta

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 17th century from 'rickets', a childhood bone-softening disease caused by vitamin D deficiency, combined with the adjectival suffix '-y'. It originally meant 'affected with rickets' before broadening in the 18th century to describe any weak, shaky, or poorly constructed structure.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rickety. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rickety
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