security

• secuerity (mostly obsolete)

From Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin sēcūritās, from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”), from se- (“without”) +‎ cura (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cura (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sɪˈkjʊəɹəti/, /sɪˈkjɔːɹəti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /səˈkjɔɹ.ɪˌti/, [səˈkjɔɹ.ɪˌɾi], /səˈkjʊɹ.ɪˌti/, [səˈkjʊɹ.ɪˌɾi]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

security (countable and uncountable, plural securities)

1. (uncountable) The condition of not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially.
   • Shakespeare

     Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, / From firm security.

   • Jonathan Swift

     Some […] alleged that we should have no security for our trade.

   Jonna Nyman is an energy security expert at the University of Sheffield in England.

2. (countable) Something that secures.
3. An organization or department responsible for providing security by enforcing laws, rules, and regulations as well as maintaining order.
   • 2012 December 14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 2, page 23:

     The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.

   • 2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:

     From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.

4. (law) Something that secures the fulfillment of an obligation or law.
5. (law) Freedom from apprehension.
6. (finance, often used in plural) A tradeable financial asset, such as a share of stock.^W
7. (finance) Proof of ownership of stocks, bonds or other investment instruments.
8. (finance) Property etc. temporarily relinquished to guarantee repayment of a loan.
9. A guarantee.
   • Macaulay

     Those who lent him money lent it on no security but his bare word.

10. (obsolete) Carelessness; negligence.
    • Shakespeare

      He means, my lord, that we are too remiss,

      Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security,

      Grows strong and great in substance and in power.

• (condition of not being threatened): safety
• (something that secures): protection
• (something that secures the fulfillment of an obligation): guarantee, surety
• See also Thesaurus:security

• insecurity (condition of being threatened)

• security on Wikipedia.Wikipedia