security

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /səˈkjɔɹ.ɪˌti/ UK /sɪˈkjʊə.ɹə.ti/ See IPA manual

Freq #769

Meanings

1

noun
the state of being safe and protected from danger

National security is the government's top priority.
2

noun
things done to protect against theft, attack, or danger

Airport security has become much stricter.
3

noun
a department or staff responsible for keeping people and property safe

She called security when the alarm went off.
4

noun
a feeling of safety and freedom from worry

The dog gave the family a sense of security.
5

noun
property promised to a lender in case a loan is not repaid

He used his house as security for the loan.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of being safe and... safety

2 noun · things done to protect... security measures

3 noun · a department or staff... security department

5 noun · property promised to a... surety collateral

Opposites

insecurity

Word family

Forms securities

Derived forms antisecuritybiosecuritycountersecuritycryptosecuritycybersecuritydevsecopse-securityflexicurityhydrosecuritymaximum-securityminimum-securitynecrosecurity

Appears in

Phrases (13)

See all

security check
an inspection carried out to verify safety or prevent potential threats

Adjective + noun
financial security
a stable and reliable financial situation without risk of hardship

Adjective + noun
national security
the protection of a country from external and internal threats

Adjective + noun
online security
measures taken to protect personal and organisational data on the internet

Adjective + noun
tight security
strict and thorough security measures in place

Adjective + noun
ensure security
to make certain that adequate security is maintained

Verb + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

There's no such thing as security

Simplified etymology

Security entered English in the late Middle English period and comes from Latin securus, “free from care,” which also gave English sure, surety, insecure, and assure.

Etymology

From secure + -ity, from Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin sēcūritās, from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) + cūra (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cūrā (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure. Doublet of surety.

securite Middle English securité Middle French sēcūritās Latin sēcūrus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# security

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /səˈkjɔɹ.ɪˌti/
**IPA (UK):** /sɪˈkjʊə.ɹə.ti/
**Frequency rank:** 769

## Meanings
1. the state of being safe and protected from danger
2. things done to protect against theft, attack, or danger
3. a department or staff responsible for keeping people and property safe
4. a feeling of safety and freedom from worry
5. property promised to a lender in case a loan is not repaid

## Examples
- National security is the government's top priority.
- Airport security has become much stricter.
- She called security when the alarm went off.
- The dog gave the family a sense of security.
- He used his house as security for the loan.

## Antonyms
- insecurity

## Derived Forms
- antisecurity
- biosecurity
- countersecurity
- cryptosecurity
- cybersecurity
- devsecops
- e-security
- flexicurity
- hydrosecurity
- maximum-security
- minimum-security
- necrosecurity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: securite
- Root: securité
- Root: sēcūritās
- Root: sēcūrus

## Etymology
From secure + -ity, from Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin sēcūritās, from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) + cūra (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cūrā (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure. Doublet of surety.

## AI Etymology
Security is from secure + -ity, from Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin sēcūritās, from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) + cūra (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cūrā (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure. Doublet of surety. Important forms in the word's history include Middle English securite, Middle French securité, Latin sēcūritās, Latin sēcūrus. In current use it includes senses such as the state of being safe and protected from danger and things done to protect against theft, attack, or danger.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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