Meaning of security in English

security

noun

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/sɪˈkjʊə.rə.ti/ us

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/səˈkjʊr.ə.t̬i/

security noun (PROTECTION)

protection of a person, building, organization, or country against threats such as crime or attacks by foreign countries:

The station was closed for two hours because of a security alert.

30 demonstrators were killed in clashes with the security forces over the weekend.

The tighter security measures/precautions include video cameras throughout the city centre.

The students were deported because they posed a threat to national security.

The banks must tighten security against fraud.

The most dangerous criminals are held in maximum-security prisons (= prisons that are as difficult as possible to escape from).

[ U, + sing/pl verb ]

the group of people responsible for protecting a building:

You'll need to notify security if you want to work late in the office.

More examples

Why would a tenant agree to swap life-time security for a short-term lease?
You need some financial security when you have children.
Government bonds are a sound investment because they combine good profits and high security.
In this age of short-term contracts, job security often seems like a thing of the past.
If it's a choice between higher pay and job security, I'd prefer to keep my job.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Protection and protectors

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security noun (CERTAINTY)

C1 [ U ]

the fact that something is not likely to fail or be lost:

If it's a choice between higher pay and job security, I'd prefer to keep my job.

I'm on a temporary contract and have little financial security (= cannot be sure of having enough money to live on).

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Safe and secure

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security noun (FINANCE)

[ U ]

property or goods that you promise to give to someone if you cannot pay what you owe them:

She used her shares in the company as security against a $23 million bank loan.

The hotel held onto our suitcases as security while we went to the bank to get money to pay the bill.

securities [ plural ] finance & economics specialized

investment in a company or in government debt that can be traded on the financial markets and produces an income for the investor

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Borrowing & lending

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Stock markets

security noun (CONFIDENCE)

C2 [ U ]

the feeling of being confident in one's family and relationships:

Most children need the security of a stable family life.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Confidence & self-assurance

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(Definition of security from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

security | American Dictionary

security

noun

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/sɪˈkjʊər·ɪ·t̬i/

security noun (FREEDOM FROM RISK)

[ U ]

freedom from risk and the threat of change for the worse :

financial/job security

security noun (FREE FROM DANGER)

[ U ] social studies

freedom from danger; safety:

For security reasons, for the protection of the White House and the president, they felt it necessary to close the avenue.

A convicted spy, he sold information that may have damaged our national security.

[ U ] social studies

Security is also the group of people responsible for keeping buildings or other areas safe:

If anyone gives you trouble, just call security.

security noun (INVESTMENT)

[ C usually pl ]

an investment in a company or in government debt that can be traded on the financial markets

security noun (MONEY)

[ U ]

money you pay someone that can be legally used by that person if your actions cause the person to lose money, but that will be returned to you if it is not used:

You have give the landlord an extra month’s rent as security when you sign the lease.

(Definition of security from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

security | Business English

security

noun

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/sɪˈkjʊərəti/ us

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[ U ]

the protection of people, organizations, countries, etc. against a possible attack or other crime:

border/homeland/national security

boost/improve/tighten security Airport security has been tightened since the terrorist threat.

lax/strict/tight security

He was head of security at the Federal Aviation Administration.

security firm/contractor/company

security system/check/measure Anyone entering the building has to undergo a series of security checks.

The airport was temporarily closed due to a security alert.

security cameras/lights/doors

[ U ] IT, BANKING, INTERNET

the protection of information against being stolen or used wrongly or illegally:

data/information/IT security

security measures/checks/controls The bank has taken additional security measures to ensure accounts are protected.

[ U ]

the fact or feeling that your job, money, etc. is safe and you will not lose it:

He left the relative security of a corporate job to set up on his own.

give/offer sb security His 15-year career in investment banking has given him the financial security to transfer his skills to the voluntary sector.

economic/financial security

They are concerned about the security of their investments.

[ C, usually plural ] FINANCE, STOCK MARKET plural securities

a financial investment such as a bond or share that is traded on a financial market:

buy/hold/sell securities Investors who bought securities made up of subprime loans suffered the biggest losses.

deal in/invest in/issue securities

a securities agreement/audit/dealer

a securities business/company/house

[ U ] FINANCE

property or goods that you promise to give someone if you cannot pay them what you owe them:

give/offer/pledge sth as security She signed papers pledging their home as security against the loan.

Examples of security

security

Listed equity is composed of equity securities of listed corporations and units in listed unit trusts.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

More generally, we have given no justification for why the securities market is incomplete in our model.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

First, the returns may not be comparable because we are generating returns on securities with payoffs denominated in terms of the consumption good.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

There are minimum requirements for the admission of securities and conditions for the derogations.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The first channel is a more developed capital market resulting from pension reforms, thus making the issuing of securities cheaper.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In those days if you got a move of 4/32nd's in the government securities market, it was considered a turbulent day.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In particular, the market may become less efficient informationally when derivative securities are introduced.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

However, under this preference, an investor's holding of risky securities is independent of his wealth, as are the equilibrium prices.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Section 4 considers the special case in which the securities market is complete.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The uncertainties and anxieties that accompany this fast pace of change leaves them hankering after the imagined certitudes and securities of a more 'stable' past.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

A weak financial system-reflecting an underperforming banking system, poor investment protection and corporate governance, or fragile securities markets-yields a high cost of financial intermediation.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

There also may be other securities with payoffs contingent on public information.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Central banks joined the fray, liquidating their foreign securities to avoid capital losses in the event of a foreign devaluation.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The existence (and the creation) of multiple agents as in the cases of energy and securities tends to increase the control capacity of the principal.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

By the early 1980s, cross-border flows of capital had reached enormous volumes, and issuance and trading of securities on international markets burgeoned.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

See all examples of security

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Collocations with security

security

These are words often used in combination with security.

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

added security

The use of special paper and printing techniques provide added security.

From the

Hansard archive

Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0

adequate security

Project managers must then make sure that both hardware and software components of the system are being tested thoroughly and that adequate security procedures are in place.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

armed security

Our security arrangements do include the provision of armed security.

From the

Hansard archive

Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0

See all collocations with security