Word
unsecured
Phoneticsun·se·cured, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌənsikˈjʊɹd/
UK/ʌnsɪkjˈɔːd/
Definition
adj. describes a loan or debt that is not protected by an asset like a house or car. If you cannot pay the money back, the lender has no specific property to take from you.
adj. referring to a loan or debt that is not backed by collateral. Often used in financial contexts to describe credit that relies solely on the borrower's creditworthiness.
Examples
“Credit cards are a common type of unsecured debt.”
“Because the loan was unsecured, the bank charged a much higher interest rate to cover the increased risk.”
“The company's balance sheet showed a significant amount of unsecured liabilities, making it vulnerable to a sudden downgrade in its credit rating by major agencies.”
Examples
simple
“Credit cards are a common type of unsecured debt.”
contextual
“Because the loan was unsecured, the bank charged a much higher interest rate to cover the increased risk.”
complex
“The company's balance sheet showed a significant amount of unsecured liabilities, making it vulnerable to a sudden downgrade in its credit rating by major agencies.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before nouns like 'loan', 'debt', or 'credit'.
Real-World Examples
“Research from Texas State University has found that unsecured doors were associated with more victims during active shooter incidents at schools.” “Rahm topped the list of unsecured creditors, being owed $7.5m (£5.5m) in Q3 of this year, while the next four spots were filled by DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Adrian Meronk.” - 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/unsecured