What does riskiness mean?
Riskiness is an uncountable noun meaning the quality of being risky: the degree to which an action, choice, plan, or situation involves danger, uncertainty, or possible loss. It differs from the related noun risk in emphasis. Risk often refers to the possibility or likelihood of harm, whereas riskiness characterizes something as a whole because of the danger or uncertainty inherent in it. Writers might therefore describe an investment as risky because of its riskiness, or note that the riskiness of the decision was not fully understood. The word is especially useful in formal discussion, analysis, and technical writing about safety, finance, medicine, technology, and policy. It can also carry an evaluative connotation, implying that the dangers or uncertainties have been insufficiently considered. In ordinary conversation, however, risk or risky often conveys the same idea more economically. Riskiness is therefore valuable when the focus is not on a single possible outcome but on the broader hazardous or uncertain character of something.
nounThe quality or condition of being risky; the degree to which something involves danger, uncertainty, or the possibility of loss.
- The quality or condition of being risky, especially the degree of danger, uncertainty, or possible loss associated with an action, choice, or situation.
"Investors had underestimated the riskiness of relying on a single supplier."
"Investors had underestimated the riskiness of relying on a single supplier."
"Her talk emphasized the riskiness of deploying the system without a rollback plan."
Rare; riskiness is normally treated as an uncountable noun.
"The report compares the riskinesses of several investment strategies."
By adding “-ness” to “risky,” English turned a warning label into something an analyst can assess.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How riskiness is actually used
Riskiness is normally uncountable and is especially common in formal, analytical, or technical contexts. In everyday speech, risk and risky are generally more frequent. British and American usage are broadly similar.
Easily confused with riskiness
Riskiness is a noun naming a quality, whereas risky is an adjective describing something that involves danger or uncertainty.