English Reference
noun

insecurity

n.
US /ˌɪnsɪkˈjʊɹɪti/ UK /ˌɪnsɪkjˈɔːɹɪti/ in·se·cu·ri·ty UK spelling insecurities

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a 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.

    Simple

    His deep insecurity made it hard for him to accept any praise from his boss.

    In context

    Despite her professional success, she struggled with a persistent sense of insecurity that often surfaced during high-stakes negotiations.

    self doubtuncertaintydiffidence
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a 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.

    Simple

    Financial insecurity is a major cause of stress for families living in the city.

    In context

    The report highlighted the growing food insecurity in the region, noting that thousands of households lacked reliable access to affordable nutrition.

    instabilityvulnerabilityprecariousness
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a 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.

    Simple

    The company fixed a major insecurity in their software before hackers could find it.

    In context

    The IT audit identified several critical insecurities in the network architecture that required immediate patching to prevent data breaches.

Companies that take this approach and understand the great cost of job insecurity are the ones most likely to profit from their AI investment.

The Conversation· 12 Aug 2026

Extremely shy, Alexandra protected “her own deeply held insecurities by retreating, at every opportunity, from public view,” Rappaport writes in The Romanov Sisters .

Smithsonian Magazine· 16 Jul 2026

Borrowed from Medieval Latin īnsēcūritās. By surface analysis, insecure + -ity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated