Word
insecure
Phoneticsin·se·cure, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnsəkjɝ/
UK/ˌɪnsɪkjˈɔː/
Definitions
01lacking self-confidence
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. feeling anxious or not confident about yourself or your relationships.
adj. lacking self-confidence or assurance; prone to anxiety about one's worth or the stability of personal relationships.
“He felt insecure about his new job because he didn't have much experience.”
“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'.
02not safe or stable
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not firmly fixed or safe; likely to break, fall, or fail.
adj. not firmly fixed, settled, or guarded; liable to give way, fail, or be compromised.
“The old wooden ladder felt very insecure as I climbed toward the roof.”
“The hikers realized the mountain path was insecure after the heavy rains had washed away much of the supporting soil.”
Synonyms
03lacking protection
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. not protected against danger or attacks, especially in a digital or legal way.
adj. deficient in protection or safety measures; frequently used in technical contexts regarding data or financial stability.
“You should never enter your credit card details on an insecure website.”
“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.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Yet many are still ending up in poverty and insecure housing later in life.” “In Chocó and Valle del Cauca, two of the hardest-hit areas, close to one in three people were already food insecure.” Etymology
From in- + secure, or from Medieval Latin insēcūrus, itself from in- (“in-, un-, non-”) + sēcūrus (“safe, certain”). Piecewise doublet of unsecure and unsure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/insecure