# vulnerable

/ˈvəɫnɝəbəɫ/ (US) · /vˈʌlnəɹəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vulnerable
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. easily hurt or attacked

adjective · CEFR B2

easy to hurt or attack, either physically or emotionally.

For teachers: susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.

- The small village was vulnerable to attacks because it had no walls.
- After the recent scandal, the politician felt increasingly vulnerable to criticism from both the media and his own party members.

### 2. security weakness

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a computer or system that is not protected against hackers or viruses.

For teachers: susceptible to exploitation by malicious software or unauthorised users due to a flaw in code or design.

- Old computers are often vulnerable to new types of viruses.
- The security audit revealed that the database was vulnerable to SQL injection attacks due to outdated encryption protocols.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'to'.

### 3. at risk of extinction

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a type of animal or plant that is likely to become endangered soon.

For teachers: categorised as being at high risk of extinction in the wild, though not yet critically endangered.

- Giant pandas were once endangered, but now they are classified as vulnerable.
- Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of several vulnerable species before their population numbers drop to critical levels.

## Examples

- The old wooden door makes the house vulnerable to burglars.
- Without the latest security patch, the company's database remains vulnerable to external cyber attacks.
- The charity provides essential support to vulnerable members of the community who lack access to stable housing or healthcare services.

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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.