secure

The word “secure” means protected from danger, harm, or loss. In plain terms, safe, protected, or firmly fixed — or, as a verb, to make something safe or to obtain it.

“Secure” is pronounced sih-KYOOR (/səˈkjʊɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “secure” used in a sentence: “The vault is one of the most secure places in the building.”

The opposite of “secure” — its antonyms — is insecure.

Depending on how it is used, “secure” can be an adjective and a verb.

The word “secure” comes from Latin. From Latin securus, "free from care," from se- ("without") + cura ("care") — literally "careless" in the old sense of untroubled. The same root gives us "cure" and "sure.".

“Secure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Secure” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: protected from danger, harm, or loss.

The two overlap, but secure stresses active protection — locks, defences or safeguards that keep danger out. Safe stresses the resulting state of being free from harm. A door can be secure because it is bolted, which then makes the house safe. In short, security is often the means, and safety the outcome.

The main opposites are insecure, vulnerable and exposed. Something that is not protected from danger, harm or loss can be described as unsafe, unguarded or at risk. Where secure suggests firm protection, its antonyms suggest weakness or openness to threat — a vulnerable border, an exposed position, or an insecure lock.

In practice, few things are ever perfectly secure. Security experts tend to talk about reducing risk rather than removing it entirely, since new threats constantly emerge. A system, home or account can be made highly secure through layered protection, but 'completely secure' is usually a goal to aim for rather than a guarantee.