rickety

UK: /ˈrɪkɪti/ US: /ˈrɪkɪti/ ,(rik′i tē)

Inflections of 'rickety' (adj):

ricketier

adj comparative

ricketiest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rick•et•y /ˈrɪkɪti/   adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

1. likely to fall or collapse;
   shaky;
   old or dilapidated:
   a rickety chair.
2. of or relating to rickets.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rick•et•y  (rik′i tē), adj., -et•i•er, -et•i•est. 

1. likely to fall or collapse;
   shaky:
   a rickety chair.
2. feeble in the joints;
   tottering;
   infirm:
   a rickety old man.
3. old, dilapidated, or in disrepair.
4. irregular, as motion or action.
5. affected with or suffering from rickets.
6. pertaining to or of the nature of rickets.

• ricket(s) + -y¹ 1675–85

rick′et•i•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. . decrepit, frail, withered, unsteady, wobbly.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rickety / ˈrɪkɪtɪ/ adjective

1. (of a structure, piece of furniture, etc) likely to collapse or break; shaky
2. feeble with age or illness; infirm
3. relating to, resembling, or having rickets

Etymology: 17th Century: from rickets

ˈricketiness noun