# vulnerability

/ˌvəɫnɝəˈbɪɫɪti/ (US) · /vˌʌlnəɹəbˈɪlɪti/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. emotional or physical weakness

noun · CEFR B2

the state of being easily hurt or not protected, especially when you show your feelings.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a security flaw

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a weakness in a computer system or a building that allows an attacker to get inside.

For teachers: a specific weakness in a system's security or physical defences that can be exploited by a threat actor.

- 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'.

## Examples

- The company released an update to fix a security vulnerability.
- Researchers discovered a critical vulnerability in the messaging app that allowed hackers to secretly read private conversations.
- By exploiting an unpatched vulnerability in the server's operating system, the syndicate bypassed all perimeter defenses and exfiltrated terabytes of encrypted corporate data.

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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.