Security

//sɪˈkjʊə.ɹə.ti// noun

noun ·Common ·Middle school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The condition of not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially. uncountable

    "Chad always carries a gun for his own security."

  2. 2
    measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc. wordnet
  3. 3
    Something that secures. countable
  4. 4
    an electrical device that sets off an alarm when someone tries to break in wordnet
  5. 5
    An organization or department responsible for providing security by enforcing laws, rules, and regulations as well as maintaining order. countable, uncountable

    "Pamela works in security."

Show 14 more definitions
  1. 6
    a guarantee that an obligation will be met wordnet
  2. 7
    Something that secures the fulfillment of an obligation or law. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    freedom from anxiety or fear wordnet
  4. 9
    Freedom from apprehension. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    a department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers wordnet
  6. 11
    A tradeable financial asset, such as a share of stock or any of various classes of bond.ᵂ countable, in-plural, often, uncountable
  7. 12
    defense against financial failure; financial independence wordnet
  8. 13
    Proof of ownership of stocks, bonds or other investment instruments. countable, uncountable
  9. 14
    property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation wordnet
  10. 15
    Property etc. temporarily relinquished to guarantee repayment of a loan. countable, uncountable
  11. 16
    a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends wordnet
  12. 17
    A guarantee. countable, uncountable

    "As to Perſons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Condition; and theſe Funds are always managed with good Husbandry and the moſt exact Juſtice."

  13. 18
    the state of being free from danger or injury wordnet
  14. 19
    Carelessness; negligence. countable, obsolete, uncountable

    "He means, my lord, that we are too remiss, Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security, Grows strong and great in substance and in power."

Synonyms

All synonyms
guaranteeprotectionprotectionsafetysuretyaegis

Example

More examples

"Germany adopted a social security system in the 1880's."

Etymology

From secure + -ity, from Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin sēcūritās, from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) + cūra (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cūrā (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure. Doublet of surety.

Related phrases

Security Councilcollateral securitycollective securityconvertible securitye-securityfood securityhomeland securityjob securityletter securitymaximum securitymaximum-securityminimum security

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.