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

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Etymology

Origin of security

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

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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

It’s unclear how effective the messaging on security has been.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2026

Once I got in touch with the security company and my neighbors, we headed home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2026

He went on to say that if he received a proposal that contained security guarantees, no constraints on Ukraine's military and funds to rebuild the country, he would put it to a referendum.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026

But he said US security and law enforcement agencies were still checking and had ruled nothing out.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026

It was another lab like the one Coal had visited on the tour, but there was more security and fewer people.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

He owns about 3% of the company, securities filings show, and unlike other Silicon Valley founders of enormous companies, Nvidia doesn’t have a dual-class stock structure that grants him control of the company.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026

Former Chair Gary Gensler maintained that most crypto assets were securities whose sellers flouted investor-protection laws.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

"As a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Company's securities, Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered significant losses and damages," the lawsuit alleges.

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026

The recent profit was driven by a $496.1 million gain on digital assets and equity securities, partially offset by other non-cash costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

They made a perfectly complementary pair, Thorne a skillful salesman who hawked the securities transactions contrived by the introverted Alfred.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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Related Words

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

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