Vocabulary
Vulnerable: meaning and respectful use
Sign in to saveA glass on the edge of a table, a town near a river in flood, and a person sharing painful news can all be vulnerable in different ways.
Use vulnerable for people, places, or things that need protection because they can be harmed, affected, or hurt easily.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
vulnerable /ˈvʌl.nər.ə.bəl/
The short answer
Vulnerable means open to harm, damage, attack, or emotional hurt, and therefore in need of care or protection.
Older residents were especially vulnerable during the heatwave.
Why it works: The sentence says that this group faced a greater risk from the heat.
3 more examples
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Homes near the river are vulnerable to flooding after several days of heavy rain.
The homes face a particular risk because of their location and the weather.
Not this:Homes near the river are
exposed to floodingafter several days of heavy rain. What changes: Exposed also describes contact with a risk. Vulnerable more directly suggests that the homes can be harmed and may need protection. -
After the data breach, the company checked whether its payment system was vulnerable to attack.
A weakness may allow an attacker to cause damage to the system.
Not this:After the data breach, the company checked whether its payment system was
available for attack. What changes: Available does not express a security weakness. Vulnerable tells us that the system may be open to harm. -
He felt vulnerable after speaking honestly about the mistake in front of the team.
He may feel open to judgment or emotional hurt after sharing something personal.
Not this:He
felt weakafter speaking honestly about the mistake in front of the team. What changes: Weak often suggests a lack of strength. Vulnerable focuses on being open to hurt or judgment in that moment.
Read the full guide
Use vulnerable when a real risk or exposure matters. When you describe people, name the situation that creates the risk and avoid using the word as a fixed label for their identity.
Start with the possibility of harm
Something is vulnerable when it can be damaged, hurt, or affected easily. The risk may be physical, emotional, financial, or digital. The word points to the risk itself; it does not predict that harm will definitely happen.
The seedlings are vulnerable to frost in early spring.
Use vulnerable to for a specific risk
Vulnerable to is the most useful pattern to learn. Put the possible harm after to: vulnerable to flooding, vulnerable to theft, or vulnerable to criticism. This tells the reader what kind of protection or support may be needed.
Without regular updates, the website may be vulnerable to security problems.
Use care when you describe people
People are sometimes called vulnerable because a situation increases their risk. Give the relevant context where possible: people who have lost housing after a storm, or passengers who cannot reach a safe exit. This is clearer and more respectful than treating vulnerability as a permanent personal trait.
The service provided extra information for passengers who were vulnerable during the disruption.
Separate vulnerable from weak and helpless
Weak can describe low physical strength or a poor argument. Helpless means unable to act or get help. Vulnerable is wider: a strong person, a secure-looking building, or a modern system can all be vulnerable to a particular problem.
A vulnerable person faces a risk. A helpless person cannot easily respond to the situation.
Choose the word from context
A student has just moved to a new city and does not know anybody there. You want to explain why a dishonest landlord might target the student. Is vulnerable suitable?
Yes. The unfamiliar situation may make the student more open to exploitation. Name the situation so the sentence stays precise and respectful.
Before you go
Remember this
Use vulnerable for a person or thing that is open to a particular kind of harm. It often appears in the pattern vulnerable to + noun. When the subject is a person or group, explain the circumstance with care.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Vulnerable: meaning and respectful use"
What does vulnerable mean?
Vulnerable means open to harm, damage, attack, or emotional hurt. It often suggests that someone or something may need protection or support.
Homes near the river are vulnerable to flooding after several days of heavy rain.
How do I use vulnerable to in a sentence?
Use vulnerable to before the risk: vulnerable to flooding, vulnerable to fraud, or vulnerable to criticism. This pattern explains what may cause harm.
Homes near the river are exposed to flooding after several days of heavy rain.
Does vulnerable mean weak?
No. Weak usually describes a lack of strength. Vulnerable means open to a particular risk, and a capable person can still be vulnerable in some situations.
After the data breach, the company checked whether its payment system was vulnerable to attack.
Can vulnerable describe a computer system?
Yes. A computer system is vulnerable when a weakness may allow damage, misuse, or unauthorized access. Security writing often uses vulnerable to attack.
After the data breach, the company checked whether its payment system was available for attack.
How do you pronounce vulnerable?
Say VUL-ner-a-ble. The stress falls on the first syllable, and the middle vowels are usually pronounced lightly in connected speech.
He felt vulnerable after speaking honestly about the mistake in front of the team.