security

American  

[si-kyoor-i-tee] / sɪˈkjʊər ɪ ti /

noun

• securities
  plural

1. freedom from danger, risk, etc.; safety.

2. freedom from care, anxiety, or doubt; well-founded confidence.

   Synonyms:

   positiveness, certainty, assurance

3. something that secures or makes safe; protection; defense.

   Synonyms:

   safety, safeguard

4. freedom from financial cares or from want.

   The insurance policy gave the family security.

5. precautions taken to guard against crime, attack, sabotage, espionage, etc..

   claims that security was lax at the embassy;

   the importance of computer security to prevent hackers from gaining access.

6. a department or organization responsible for protection or safety.

   He called security when he spotted the intruder.

7. protection or precautions taken against escape; custody.

   The dangerous criminal was placed under maximum security.

8. an assurance; guarantee.

9. Law.

   1. something given or deposited as surety for the fulfillment of a promise or an obligation, the payment of a debt, etc.

   2. one who becomes surety for another.

10. an evidence of debt or of property, as a bond or a certificate of stock.

11. Usually securities. stocks and bonds.

12. Archaic. overconfidence; cockiness.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or serving as security.

   The company has instituted stricter security measures.

security British  

/ sɪˈkjʊərɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being secure

2. assured freedom from poverty or want

   he needs the security of a permanent job

3. a person or thing that secures, guarantees, etc

4. precautions taken to ensure against theft, espionage, etc

   the security in the government offices was not very good

5. (often plural)

   1. a certificate of creditorship or property carrying the right to receive interest or dividend, such as shares or bonds

   2. the financial asset represented by such a certificate

6. the specific asset that a creditor can claim title to in the event of default on an obligation

7. something given or pledged to secure the fulfilment of a promise or obligation

8. a person who undertakes to fulfil another person's obligation

9. the protection of data to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to computer files

10. archaic carelessness or overconfidence

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security Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing security

• lull into (false sense of security)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsecurity
  noun
• oversecurity
  noun
• self-security
  noun
• subsecurity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• securities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of security

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English securytye, securite(e), from Latin sēcūritās; see origin at secure, -ity

Explanation

Security means safety, as well as the measures taken to be safe or protected. In order to provide adequate security for the parade, town officials often hire extra guards. A small child will sometimes latch on to a blanket or stuffed animal that gives him or her the feeling of security. Often this word is used in compounds such as a security measure, security check or security guard. The security department in a business is sometimes just called security. If there's a troublesome customer at your work, call security to take him away. In the financial world, a stock or bond is also called a security.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

security securities

The PGD sets operational capacity by judging the total number of inmates a prison can hold and takes into account control and security.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

CNN labeled him a “boy genius” and reported that Microsoft had added the preschooler to its list of security researchers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Venezuela’s government hailed the meeting as historic and said the two leaders discussed cooperation in energy, mining and security.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

“I believe that this is the most important global security issue facing the world today,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

I followed, not wanting to be left alone in the tree for a passing security guard to catch.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

The delinquency rate for multifamily loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities jumped from 1% in October 2023 to 7.1% this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

He was then able to use that extra money to buy more Bitcoin, driving up its price and giving himself a chance to sell more securities to investors.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

Volatility is also a problem for holders of mortgage-backed securities.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

“SVB failed as the result of a confluence of vulnerabilities including real but unrealized accounting losses on its securities portfolio that exceeded its capital,” Bowman says when delivering remarks in London.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

They stopped the plane on the runway at Kennedy Airport and removed the doctor, who was carrying some $650,000 in negotiable securities, and jewelry that had belonged to his wife.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• bond
• care
• freedom
• guarantee
• insurance
• preservation
• surveillance