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.

---

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

Renewable energy and storage will continue to be "structural solutions to the exposure and vulnerability that the external dependence on fossil fuels represents", it added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

The faster global warming occurs, the less time the Atlantic Ocean has to adjust, potentially increasing the vulnerability of one of the planet's most important circulation systems.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

"We were surprised that these messages were not encrypted, and that vulnerability was there."

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

I think that’s also just personal human growth — leaning into vulnerability without it feeling like you are weaker or less than.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

His face was always under control but his eyes showed his vulnerability, gave Jerry a glimpse into the hell that was burning inside the teacher.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

The tool deployed up to eight autonomous agents that mapped 21 government systems, explored vulnerabilities and changed tactics when blocked, the FT said, describing the attack as a first of its kind.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

But the discovery has raised questions about the potential vulnerabilities of military systems, particularly in the production of drone technology, which is dominated by China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

"Our assurance and testing processes are designed to identify and address potential vulnerabilities early, and we continue to undertake routine security activity across our systems and equipment," the MoD added.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

The Commerce Department last July opened an investigation into imports of polysilicon and associated products to determine whether they threatened national security and what level of tariffs could reduce those vulnerabilities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Unlike most Odessans, he wasn’t afraid to express his fears and vulnerabilities.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Related Words

• susceptibility