Word
vulnerability
Phoneticsvul·ner·a·bil·i·ty, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌvəɫnɝəˈbɪɫɪti/
UK/vˌʌlnəɹəbˈɪlɪti/
Definitions
01emotional or physical weakness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being easily hurt or not protected, especially when you show your feelings.
n. the state of being susceptible to physical or emotional injury; often used in psychology to describe openness to others.
“Showing your vulnerability to a friend can actually make your relationship stronger.”
“The therapist argued that acknowledging one's vulnerability is a prerequisite for developing genuine emotional resilience in high-stress environments.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a security flaw
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a weakness in a computer system or a building that allows an attacker to get inside.
n. a specific weakness in a system's security or physical defences that can be exploited by a threat actor.
Español:vulnerabilidad
“The company released a software update to fix a major vulnerability in their app.”
“Cybersecurity experts identified a critical vulnerability in the server's encryption protocol that could have exposed sensitive user data to unauthorised access.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'in' or 'to'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vulnerability” in context.
Verb
01. increase vulnerability
“The lack of adequate security updates will significantly increase vulnerability to cyberattacks.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“The case garnered national attention for exposing pilot behaviour toward female flight attendants and the vulnerability of the scores of young women who have historically been the target demographic for the job.” “In the OpenAI-Hugging Face incident, the AI attacked the sandbox itself, finding a vulnerability which let it access the internet and "go rogue".” “In our culture, we vilify vulnerability and valorise independence.” “There is also the argument that getting off gas quicker reduces vulnerability to price shocks.” Etymology
From vulnerable + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vulnerability
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0