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

Etymology

Origin of vulnerability

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

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

The attacks were the latest to highlight the vulnerability of even hardened targets to hackers using freely available AI tools.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The securities industry is generating record tax revenue for New York, increasing the city’s and state’s vulnerability to a downturn, the state comptroller warns.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Maneuvering Hal to a place of vulnerability required focus.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

"They appear to use NAD at a much higher rate than normal cells, which creates a vulnerability that we can exploit with new types of drugs."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

I love his feet And I love his dear eyes in which the vulnerability and beauty of his soul can be plainly read.

From "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker

He said AI has created a "much more powerful way of uncovering vulnerabilities".

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

“The industry will all be jumping in, looking at any possible vulnerabilities and patch it up.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

“Your vulnerabilities can ebb and flow. So you want to ask, ‘Where are my vulnerabilities?’” in a given situation.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

Google compared the episode to a “bug bounty” program in which hackers are rewarded for finding and reporting security vulnerabilities to their owners.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

“Lindy’s drawing up articles of incorporation, which will protect your personal assets from any real or perceived vulnerabilities or liabilities of a professional nature.”

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• susceptibility