ENGLISH
REFERENCE

insecure

adj.
US //ˈɪnsəkjɝ// UK //ˌɪnsɪkjˈɔː// in·se·cure
  1. 1 lacking self-confidence (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    feeling anxious or not confident about yourself or your relationships.

    lacking self-confidence or assurance; prone to anxiety about one's worth or the stability of personal relationships.

    Example

    He felt insecure about his new job because he didn't have much experience.

    Example

    Despite her professional success, she remained deeply insecure about her public speaking abilities, often over-preparing for even the most casual presentations.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'about'.
  2. 2 not safe or stable (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not firmly fixed or safe; likely to break, fall, or fail.

    not firmly fixed, settled, or guarded; liable to give way, fail, or be compromised.

    Example

    The old wooden ladder felt very insecure as I climbed toward the roof.

    Example

    The hikers realized the mountain path was insecure after the heavy rains had washed away much of the supporting soil.
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  1. 3 lacking protection (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    not protected against danger or attacks, especially in a digital or legal way.

    deficient in protection or safety measures; frequently used in technical contexts regarding data or financial stability.

    Example

    You should never enter your credit card details on an insecure website.

    Example

    The security audit revealed that several legacy servers were running insecure protocols, leaving the entire network vulnerable to external exploitation.

    Usage

    Commonly used to describe networks, connections, or financial positions.
Origin

From in- + secure, or from Medieval Latin insēcūrus, itself from in- (“in-, un-, non-”) + sēcūrus (“safe, certain”). Piecewise doublet of unsecure and unsure.

Word family

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