vulnerability

American  

[vuhl-ner-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌvʌl nər əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

Rarely vulnerableness

noun

• vulnerabilities
  plural

1. openness or susceptibility to attack or harm.

   We need to develop bold policies that will reduce the vulnerability of farmers to drought and floods.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Biology, likeliness to be classified as an endangered species in the near future unless circumstances improve.

   the vulnerability of the giraffe.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• vulnerabilities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of vulnerability

First recorded in 1800–10; vulnerable ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vulnerability vulnerabilities

It is a moment of unique vulnerability, they said — the sort that causes strongmen to cast aspersions on opponents and rivals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2026

"So maybe my strength is that vulnerability, and I need to recognise that more."

From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2026

If brain activity can shift toward patterns associated with vulnerability, Zhang hopes future treatments might also encourage it to move toward greater resilience.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2026

Without America’s lead, we wouldn’t have been able to address the vulnerability before malicious actors used foreign models to exploit it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

He was a photographer on a fellowship and the first time Ifemelu saw his photographs, in black-and-white, in dances of shadow, their delicacy and vulnerability had surprised her.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

AI is drastically amplifying the threat, helping automate searches for vulnerabilities and scan for openings at breakneck speed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

How Megaspeed and Alice Huang came to Singapore highlights other vulnerabilities stemming from the city-state's openness.

From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026

MGI said those vulnerabilities won’t necessarily be exploited by hostile suppliers, because they would also stand to lose by withholding goods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Jill described Salah Fayed as "a very cruel man" who exploited her vulnerabilities and exercised near-total control over her life.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

It had never crossed his mind that Eril-Fane might have vulnerabilities.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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Related Words

• susceptibility

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