Word
insecurity
Phoneticsin·se·cu·ri·ty, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnsɪkˈjʊɹɪti/
UK/ˌɪnsɪkjˈɔːɹɪti/
Definitions
01lack of self-confidence
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a feeling of being unsure about yourself, your abilities, or your value.
n. a psychological state of self-doubt or lack of confidence in one's own worth or abilities.
“His deep insecurity made it hard for him to accept any praise from his boss.”
“Despite her professional success, she struggled with a persistent sense of insecurity that often surfaced during high-stakes negotiations.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02lack of safety or stability
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a situation where you are not safe or where things could easily go wrong.
n. the state of being open to danger or threat; a lack of protection or stability in a physical or systemic context.
“Financial insecurity is a major cause of stress for families living in the city.”
“The report highlighted the growing food insecurity in the region, noting that thousands of households lacked reliable access to affordable nutrition.”
Synonyms
03system vulnerability
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a weakness in a computer system or building that makes it easy to attack.
n. a specific vulnerability or weakness in a security system, often in a digital or structural context.
“The company fixed a major insecurity in their software before hackers could find it.”
“The IT audit identified several critical insecurities in the network architecture that required immediate patching to prevent data breaches.”
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Real-World Examples
“Companies that take this approach and understand the great cost of job insecurity are the ones most likely to profit from their AI investment.” “Extremely shy, Alexandra protected “her own deeply held insecurities by retreating, at every opportunity, from public view,” Rappaport writes in The Romanov Sisters .” Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin īnsēcūritās. By surface analysis, insecure + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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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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