The core vulnerable meaning is easily harmed: a person, place or thing is vulnerable when it can be hurt, damaged or attacked more easily than usual. A coastal village is vulnerable to floods; a newborn is vulnerable to infection.
In conversations about feelings, the word has a second, warmer sense. Being vulnerable means letting others see your fears or weaknesses, which takes trust. The noun for both ideas is vulnerability.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Open to harm, attack, damage or emotional hurtPart of speech
AdjectivePronunciation
VUHL-ner-uh-buhl (often VUHL-nruh-buhl)Word forms
Vulnerability (noun), vulnerabilities (plural), vulnerably (adverb, rare)Origin
Late Latin vulnerabilis, from vulnerare (to wound) and vulnus (a wound)Opposite
Invulnerable, protected, secure, resilientRegister
Neutral; used in health, security, social policy and daily talk
The vulnerable meaning in four settings
- Physical risk. Likely to be injured or to fall ill: elderly people are more vulnerable to heatstroke.
- Emotional openness. Sharing honest feelings that could be hurt: he felt vulnerable telling his friends about his anxiety.
- Weakness to attack. Exposed to criticism, competition or force: the team's defense was vulnerable on the left side.
- Social and legal protection. "Vulnerable groups" or "vulnerable adults" are people who need extra care because of age, illness, disability or circumstances.
Vulnerability meaning and definition
Vulnerability is the state of being vulnerable, or a specific weak point. You might hear about financial vulnerability, the risk that one lost paycheck causes hardship, or climate vulnerability, how exposed a region is to droughts and storms.
In computer security, a vulnerability is a flaw in software or hardware that an attacker could use to break in. Security teams publish fixes, often called patches, once a vulnerability is found. In this sense the word is countable: a program may have several vulnerabilities.
Vulnerable definition in real sentences
- Young plants are vulnerable to frost, so cover them on cold nights.
- She was vulnerable for once and admitted she needed help with the move.
- The audit found a vulnerability in the login page.
- Charities in our city focus on vulnerable children who have lost a parent.
- Without savings, the family was vulnerable to any sudden expense.
Is being vulnerable good or bad?
It depends on the sense. Being vulnerable to fraud, disease or attack is a risk, and people try to reduce it. Emotional vulnerability is different. Many counsellors and psychologists describe it as a strength, because opening up honestly can deepen trust and connection. It also carries real risk of being hurt, which is why it feels hard.
A healthy balance often involves choosing who to be vulnerable with. Related ideas include empathy, which helps others respond kindly, and resilience, which is about bouncing back.
How to use the word
- The usual preposition is to: vulnerable to attack, vulnerable to infection, vulnerable to scams.
- Common pairings: feel vulnerable, leave someone vulnerable, highly vulnerable, especially vulnerable, the most vulnerable.
- As a group noun with the: "policies to protect the vulnerable".
- The opposite adjective is invulnerable, meaning impossible to harm.
Pronunciation tip: the l is clearly sounded. Many speakers say three syllables, VUHL-nruh-buhl, which is also correct. Spelling tip: it is vul-ner-able, never vunerable.
Vulnerable, sensitive, fragile and exposed
| Word | Main idea |
|---|---|
| Vulnerable | Can be harmed; open to attack or hurt |
| Sensitive | Reacts strongly to feelings, touch or conditions |
| Fragile | Easily broken; delicate |
| Exposed | Not covered or protected; out in the open |
| Susceptible | Likely to be affected by something, especially illness or influence |
A glass vase is fragile, not usually vulnerable. A sleeping guard is vulnerable, not fragile. For more feeling words, explore our people and feelings pages or the page on overwhelmed.
Origin of vulnerable
Vulnerable entered English in the early seventeenth century from Late Latin vulnerabilis, meaning wounding or able to be wounded. It comes from vulnerare, to wound, and vulnus, a wound. The idea of a literal wound still sits under every modern sense, from a weak spot in a castle wall to a hurt heart.
Frequently asked questions
What does vulnerability mean?
Vulnerability means being open to harm, or a particular weak spot. In feelings, it means openly showing emotions that could be hurt. In computing, it is a security flaw.
When someone is vulnerable with you, what is happening?
It means they are sharing something personal, such as a fear, mistake or deep feeling, and trusting you to handle it with care.
Who are vulnerable people?
In health and social care, vulnerable people are those at higher risk of harm, such as young children, older adults, people with serious illness or disability, and people in crisis.
How do you pronounce vulnerable?
Say VUHL-ner-uh-buhl, stressing the first syllable. A three-syllable version, VUHL-nruh-buhl, is common and correct. Do not drop the l.
What is the opposite of vulnerable?
Invulnerable is the direct opposite, meaning impossible to harm. Secure, protected and safe are everyday alternatives.
Can you define vulnerable quickly?
Briefly, the definition of vulnerable is able to be hurt or damaged easily, whether in body, mind, money or security. To define vulnerability, just turn that into a noun: the state of being easily hurt, or a weak point.