# insecurity

/ˌɪnsɪkˈjʊɹɪti/ (US) · /ˌɪnsɪkjˈɔːɹɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insecurity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. lack of self-confidence

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling of being unsure about yourself, your abilities, or your value.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. lack of safety or stability

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where you are not safe or where things could easily go wrong.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. system vulnerability

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a weakness in a computer system or building that makes it easy to attack.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She tried to hide her insecurity by talking too much.
- Rising inflation has led to widespread food insecurity in the region, leaving many families unsure of their next meal.
- His aggressive management style was largely a projection of his own deep-seated insecurity about his lack of formal qualifications.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.