vulnerability

/ˌvʌlnəˈræbɪləti/
nounIntermediate
general

The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Her vulnerability made her more relatable to the audience.

Because she was open about her weaknesses, people could connect with her more easily.

The software had a critical vulnerability that allowed hackers to bypass security.

There was a serious flaw in the software that hackers could exploit.

💡

Vulnerability can refer to physical, emotional, or technical weaknesses.

Collocations

exploit a vulnerabilityto take advantage of a weaknessemotional vulnerabilitybeing open about feelingssecurity vulnerabilitya flaw in a system that can be attacked

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

be vulnerablephrase
to be open to harm or attack
vulnerability assessmentphrase
evaluating weaknesses in a system

💡Pro Tip

Emotional vs. Technical Use

Vulnerability can describe emotional openness or technical weaknesses. Context determines the meaning.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Always consider the context when using 'vulnerability'—it can refer to emotions, security, or physical exposure.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'vulnerabilis' (woundable), from 'vulnus' (wound) + '-abilis' (able to).

📝Usage Notes

In psychology, vulnerability often refers to emotional openness, while in technology, it refers to security flaws.

Word Breakdown

vulner
wound
root
+
-ability
capable of
suffix
English Dictionary