vulnerability

CEFRB2

/ˌvʌln(ə)ɹəˈbɪlɪti/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    The state of being open to harm or attack.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A specific weakness in the protections or defences surrounding someone or something.

Examples

  • Despite her hard exterior, she had a certain vulnerability that made her quite endearing.

  • Embrace your vulnerability, feel your fear, love fully.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • [ˌvʌln(ə)ɹəˈbɪləɾi]
  • /ˌvʌn(ə)ɹəˈbɪlɪti/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings
  1. A weakness which allows an attacker to reduce a system's security.

  2. The state of being vulnerable; susceptibility to attack or injury, either physical or emotional; the state or condition of being weak or poorly defended.

More examples

In context
  • The vulnerability of newborn babies to disease

  • The country recognized their defence vulnerability after an airplane landed in front of the central square without any consequences.

  • The only disadvantage of timber snow fencing is its extreme vulnerability to fire.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The security audit revealed a major blank in the computer system, allowing hackers to enter easily.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From vulnerable + -ity.