insecurity
Americannoun
-
lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt.
He is plagued by insecurity.
-
the quality or state of being insecure; instability.
the insecurity of her financial position.
- Synonyms:
- vulnerability, shakiness, precariousness
-
something insecure.
the many insecurities of life.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of insecurity
First recorded in 1640–50; from Medieval Latin insēcūritās; see origin at insecure, -ity
Explanation
Insecurity is a feeling of uncertainty, a lack of confidence or anxiety about yourself. Put aside your insecurities and start acting like the smart, capable person you are! Insecurity is the word for what you are probably feeling when you walk into the cafeteria on your first day at a new school and everyone else already has someone to sit with. But soon you will make friends and forget about your insecurities. It can also describe the state of being open to danger or threat. The economy may have you worried about job insecurity. Or maybe it's the insecurity of a rocky relationship that keeps you up at night.
Vocabulary lists containing insecurity
Workshop 2, Part 2
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Content Summary 1.1: Human Adaptation and Migration in the Paleolithic World
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The Red Umbrella
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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.
Food insufficiency is considered more severe than food insecurity, defined as having access to food but worrying about it running out or not being nutritious enough.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
This issue, along with rising homicides, is why insecurity and crime have become top concerns for voters in Sunday's presidential election in Peru.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
“The city still has issues with food insecurity and low-wage worker protections, but those are not the issues dominating anymore.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
From food insecurity to severe labor shortages, the agricultural sector is reeling.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
It struck him that the truly characteristic thing about modem life was not its cruelty and insecurity, but simply its bareness, its dinginess, its listlessness.
From "1984" by George Orwell
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.
