unsecured

[uhn-si-kyoord]

adjective

1. not secured, especially not insured against loss, as by a bond or pledge.

   an unsecured loan.

2. not made secure, as a door or lock of hair; unfastened.

3. not protected against tapping or interception, as a telephone line or radio communication.

unsecured

/ ˌʌnsɪˈkjʊəd /

adjective

1. finance

   1. (of a loan, etc) secured only against general assets and not against a specific asset

   2. (of a creditor) having no security against a specific asset and with a claim inferior to those of secure creditors

2. not made secure; loose

Word History and Origins

Origin of unsecured¹

First recorded in 1770–80; un- ¹ + secure ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Less than five years ago, the creditworthiness of Oracle’s unsecured debt was high-A rated, before the company decided to divert a significant portion of its cash flow to shareholders, resulting in multiple-notch downgrades.

Read more on Barron's

If and when the Big Tech companies drive more AI-related revenues, “we think investors will have a clearer line of sight to facilitate unsecured debt issuance,” Patkar wrote.

Read more on MarketWatch

It’s also easier to get federal student loans than other types of unsecured debt.

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In his letter, the MP highlights a 2022 incident, in which it was found that the One Login system was being developed on unsecured workstations by contractors without the required security clearance in Romania.

Read more on BBC

Also, while stress in unsecured retail and micro-finance loans is moderating, it remains elevated in the bank’s retail commercial vehicle loans.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• baggy 
• lax 
• relaxed 
• sloppy