security

• secuerity (obsolete)

From secure +‎ -ity, from Middle English securite, from Middle French securité (modern sécurité), from Latin sēcūritās, from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”), from sē- (“without”) +‎ cūra (“care”); see cure. Similar to Latin sine cūrā (“without care, carefree”), which led to English sinecure. Doublet of surety.

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

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation (US): se‧cu‧rit‧y

security (countable and uncountable, plural securities)

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

   Chad always carries a gun for his own security.

   The pink blanket gives little Mary lots of security.

   • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii]:

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

   • 1711 December 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Jonathan Swift], “The Eighth Article of the Grand Alliance”, in The Conduct of the Allies, and of the Late Ministry, in Beginning and Carrying on the Present War, 4th edition, London: […] John Morphew […], published 1711, →OCLC, pages 73–74:

     Was there no way to provide for the Safety of Britain, or the Security for its Trade, but by the French Kings turning his own Arms to beat his Grandſon out of Spain?

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.

   Pamela works in security.

   • 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.
7. (finance, often in the plural) A tradeable financial asset, such as a share of stock.^W
8. (finance) Proof of ownership of stocks, bonds or other investment instruments.
9. (finance) Property etc. temporarily relinquished to guarantee repayment of a loan.
10. A guarantee.
    • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 106–107:

      As to Perſons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Condition; and theſe Funds are always managed with good Husbandry and the moſt exact Juſtice.

    • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 12, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:

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

11. (obsolete) Carelessness; negligence.
    • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

      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)

• → Cantonese: 實Q／实Q (sat⁶ kiu¹), 石Q (sek⁶ kiu¹), 食Q, 食蕉 (sik⁶ ziu¹)
• → Indonesian: sekuriti
• → Indonesian: sekuritas (semantic loan)
• → Japanese: セキュリティ (sekyuriti)

• “security”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• security in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• “security”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• security on Wikipedia.Wikipedia