What does vulnerable mean?
Vulnerable describes someone or something that is open to harm, damage, attack, exploitation, or emotional distress. It is commonly followed by “to”: a population may be vulnerable to disease, a system may be vulnerable to failure, and a person may be emotionally vulnerable after a painful experience. The word can refer to practical dangers as well as to a feeling of exposure and lack of protection, especially when discussing personal emotions or relationships. Although its basic idea is openness to harm, vulnerable is not simply a synonym for weak; it emphasizes the possibility of being hurt or adversely affected. The term is widely used in formal discussion, including public health, security, economics, and social policy, but it is equally natural in personal conversation. Understanding it helps distinguish genuine exposure to risk from a general sense of fragility or uncertainty.
adjectiveExposed to harm, injury, attack, or exploitation; easily affected by adverse circumstances. In emotional contexts, it means liable to feeling hurt or overwhelmed.
- Exposed to danger, harm, attack, exploitation, or other adverse effects.
- Liable to emotional hurt, distress, or being overwhelmed.
- Exposed to damage or failure, especially in a structure, system, or design.
"The community was particularly vulnerable to the effects of the severe storm."
"Children in low-income households are especially vulnerable to food shortages."
"After the interview, she felt vulnerable and wished she had stayed at home."
Vulnerable comes from a Latin family associated with wounds, making its meaning almost pictorial: open to injury.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vulnerable come from?
Vulnerable comes through Old French from Latin vulnerabilis, meaning “woundable” or “liable to injury.” The Latin family was based on vulnerare, “to wound,” which is related to vulnus, “a wound.” The English word became established in the early 17th century, and related forms such as vulnerability and vulnerably developed from the same Latin foundation.
Related word forms
How vulnerable is actually used
The usual construction is “vulnerable to,” as in “vulnerable to infection.” The word is formal in many professional and public contexts but is also common in ordinary speech. It can carry an emotional connotation of being exposed, unprotected, or sensitive to criticism.
Easily confused with vulnerable
Vulnerable means exposed to harm, whereas venerable means respected because of age, wisdom, or distinguished qualities.