insecurity
n.-
1 lack of self-confidence (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea feeling of being unsure about yourself, your abilities, or your value.
a psychological state of self-doubt or lack of confidence in one's own worth or abilities.
ExampleHis deep insecurity made it hard for him to accept any praise from his boss.
ExampleDespite her professional success, she struggled with a persistent sense of insecurity that often surfaced during high-stakes negotiations.
- self doubt
- uncertainty
- diffidence
-
2 lack of safety or stability (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea situation where you are not safe or where things could easily go wrong.
the state of being open to danger or threat; a lack of protection or stability in a physical or systemic context.
ExampleFinancial insecurity is a major cause of stress for families living in the city.
ExampleThe report highlighted the growing food insecurity in the region, noting that thousands of households lacked reliable access to affordable nutrition.
- instability
- vulnerability
- precariousness
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 system vulnerability (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Computinga weakness in a computer system or building that makes it easy to attack.
a specific vulnerability or weakness in a security system, often in a digital or structural context.
ExampleThe company fixed a major insecurity in their software before hackers could find it.
ExampleThe IT audit identified several critical insecurities in the network architecture that required immediate patching to prevent data breaches.
Borrowed from Medieval Latin īnsēcūritās. By surface analysis, insecure + -ity.