vulnerability
Americannoun
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openness or susceptibility to attack or harm.
We need to develop bold policies that will reduce the vulnerability of farmers to drought and floods.
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willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known; willingness to risk being emotionally hurt.
The foundation for open communication consists of honesty, trust, and vulnerability.
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the condition of needing supportive or protective social services and community resources because of advanced age, poverty, disability, etc..
the vulnerability of disabled senior citizens.
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Biology, likeliness to be classified as an endangered species in the near future unless circumstances improve.
the vulnerability of the giraffe.
Etymology
Origin of vulnerability
First recorded in 1800–10; vulnerable ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )
Explanation
Vulnerability is the quality of being easily hurt or attacked. Some seniors think it's funny to pick on the ninth graders because of their vulnerability. Vulnerability comes from the Latin word for "wound," vulnus. Vulnerability is the state of being open to injury, or appearing as if you are. It might be emotional, like admitting that you're in love with someone who might only like you as a friend, or it can be literal, like the vulnerability of a soccer goal that's unprotected by any defensive players.
Vocabulary lists containing vulnerability
Tuesdays with Morrie
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The Bluest Eye
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Sula
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vulnerability unites not only Bastian and Fito, but all of us witnessing their story who hope against hope that compassion will somehow win the day.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2025
Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of a population – or parts of that population – to experiencing these crises based on the resources and options available to them, and their food and nutrition status.
From Salon • Apr. 30, 2024
They want this process to be identified as a condition they call Age Associated Financial Vulnerability - a pattern of risky behaviour that is inconsistent with choices that would previously have been made.
From BBC • Nov. 25, 2023
The team released the results of their study in the recent report, Saltwater Intrusion Vulnerability Assessment in Plymouth, MA.
From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2023
Denmark, Neutrality of, and Vulnerability of Sea-communications, 315.
From 1914 by French, John Denton Pinkstone, Earl of Ypres
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
