Meaning & use
security
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Meanings
noununcountable
Protection from danger, crime or harm, or the people and systems that give it.
Grammar: Used without a: airport security; call security.
Patterns
- tighten security
- security at somewhere
Security at the stadium was tight after the threats.
Please show your pass to security at the door.
The bank spent a lot of money on cybersecurity.
noununcountable
A feeling of being safe and free from worry, especially about money, home or work.
Grammar: Often modified by job or financial.
Patterns
- job security
- a sense of security
A steady salary gave the family a sense of security.
Many workers value job security over high pay.
Children need emotional security to thrive.
nouncountable or uncountablefinance
Property or something valuable you promise to give up if you cannot repay a loan.
Grammar: Often used with as: offer something as security.
Patterns
- offer something as security
- put up security
He used his house as security for the loan.
The bank asked for security before lending the money.
She put up her car as security.
nounusually pluralfinancetechnical
A financial document, such as a share or bond, showing that you own part of a company or have lent money.
Grammar: Mostly in the plural: securities.
Patterns
- trade securities
The fund buys government securities for its customers.
Securities are traded on the stock exchange.
He works in securities at a large bank.
Word forms
| plural | securities |
|---|
Common combinations
- national security
- The leaders met to discuss national security.
- job security
- Teachers often enjoy greater job security.
- airport security
- Airport security checked every bag.
- social security
- Social security helps many retirees pay their bills.
- security guard
- A security guard walked the halls at night.
- tighten security
- The school tightened security after the break-in.
Synonyms and how they differ
- safety
- Safety is the condition of not being in danger, while security often means deliberate protection against attack or loss.
- protection
- Protection is the act of guarding something, whereas security can also name the people or feeling involved.
- stability
- Stability stresses steadiness, as in finances, and not guarding against a threat.
- collateral
- Collateral is the specific word for property pledged for a loan.
Opposites
Word family
- secure adjective
- safe, or free from worry
- secure verb
- to fasten firmly or to obtain
- securely adverb
- in a safe, firm way
- insecurity noun
- lack of safety or confidence
Commonly confused: security or safety?
security vs safety
Safety protects against accidents; security protects against deliberate harm or loss.
Practice
Which sentence uses security in the financial sense?
Choose one answer.
Security as something pledged against a loan fits the second sentence. The others describe protection or a feeling of safety.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “security”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.