vulnerability

Rarely vul·ner·a·ble·ness

[vuhl-ner-uh-bil-i-tee]

noun

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vulnerability¹

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

Example Sentences

From Reds and Manhattan to Baby Boom, Father of the Bride and The First Wives Club, she embodied complex characters who balanced wit and vulnerability.

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Yet there may be a silver lining: When governments break norms this brazenly, they often create legal vulnerabilities.

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“This is a real vulnerability for U.S. AI companies,” said Joseph Hoefer, chief AI officer at lobbying firm Monument Advocacy, which represents tech companies.

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The war in Ukraine exposed Europe’s vulnerability to gas supplies from Russia, highlighting how gas—or even coal—would be needed to replace nuclear generation.

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Every close encounter serves as both a reminder of Earth's vulnerability and a demonstration of the growing precision of modern astronomy.

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Related Words

• susceptibility