Security - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT security /səˈkjʊrədi/ /sɪˈkjʊərɪti/ IPA guide

Other forms: securities

Security means safety, as well as the measures taken to be safe or protected. In order to provide adequate security for the parade, town officials often hire extra guards.

A small child will sometimes latch on to a blanket or stuffed animal that gives him or her the feeling of security. Often this word is used in compounds such as a security measure, security check or security guard. The security department in a business is sometimes just called security. If there's a troublesome customer at your work, call security to take him away. In the financial world, a stock or bond is also called a security.

Definitions of security

noun the state of being free from danger or injury “we support the armed services in the name of national security” see moresee less antonyms: insecurity the state of being subject to danger or injury types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... peace, public security the general security of public places secureness the state of freedom from fear or danger protection, shelter the condition of being protected indemnity, insurance protection against future loss radioprotection protection against harmful effects of radiation type of: safety the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
noun freedom from anxiety or fear “the watch dog gave her a feeling of security” see moresee less types: confidence a feeling of trust (in someone or something) type of: bravery, fearlessness feeling no fear
noun measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc. “military security has been stepped up since the recent uprising” synonyms: security measures see moresee less type of: guard, precaution, safeguard a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
noun defense against financial failure; financial independence “his pension gave him security in his old age” synonyms: protection see moresee less types: show 17 types... hide 17 types... easy street financial security hedge, hedging any technique designed to reduce or eliminate financial risk; for example, taking two positions that will offset each other if prices change insurance promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company assurance a British term for some kinds of insurance automobile insurance, car insurance insurance against loss due to theft or traffic accidents business interruption insurance insurance that provides protection for the loss of profits and continuing fixed expenses resulting from a break in commercial activities due to the occurrence of a peril coinsurance insurance issued jointly by two or more underwriters fire insurance insurance against loss due to fire group insurance insurance that is purchased by a group (such as the employees of a company) usually at a reduced rate to individual members of the group hazard insurance insurance that provides protection against certain risks such as storms or fires health insurance insurance against loss due to ill health liability insurance insurance that provides protection from claims arising from injuries or damage to other people or property life assurance, life insurance insurance paid to named beneficiaries when the insured person dies malpractice insurance insurance purchased by physicians and hospitals to cover the cost of being sued for malpractice reinsurance sharing the risk by insurance companies; part or all of the insurer's risk is assumed by other companies in return for part of the premium paid by the insured self-insurance insuring yourself by setting aside money to cover possible losses rather than by purchasing an insurance policy term insurance low-cost insurance that is valid only for a stated period of time and has no cash surrender value or loan value type of: assets anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by a person or company
noun a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends “he held several valuable securities” synonyms: certificate see moresee less types: show 34 types... hide 34 types... agency security, government security a security issued by United States government agencies or the Farm Credit System mortgage-backed security a security created when a group of mortgages are gathered together and bonds are sold to other institutions or the public; investors receive a portion of the interest payments on the mortgages as well as the principal payments; usually guaranteed by the government registered security a security whose owner's name is recorded on the books of the issuer (or issuer's agent) scrip a certificate whose value is recognized by the payer and payee; scrip is not currency but may be convertible into currency stock, stock certificate a certificate documenting the shareholder's ownership in the corporation tax-exempt, tax-exempt security a security that is not subject to taxation bond, bond certificate a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal zero coupon security, zero-coupon security a security that makes no interest payments but instead is sold at a deep discount from its face value partnership certificate a certificate showing the interests of all parties in a business partnership proprietorship certificate a certificate showing who is responsible in an individually owned business convertible, convertible security a corporate security (usually bonds or preferred stock) that can be exchanged for another form of security (usually common stock) letter security a stock or bond that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold in the public market listed security a security that has been accepted for trading by one of the organized and registered securities exchanges in the US OTC security, over the counter security, unlisted security a security traded in the over-the-counter market bond issue bonds sold by a corporation or government agency at a particular time and identifiable by date of maturity convertible bond a bond that can be converted to other securities under certain conditions corporate bond a bond issued by a corporation; carries no claim to ownership and pays no dividends but payments to bondholders have priority over payments to stockholders bearer bond, coupon bond a bond issued with detachable coupons that must be presented to the issuer for interest payments government bond a bond that is an IOU of the United States Treasury; considered the safest security in the investment world high-yield bond, junk bond a (speculative) bond with a credit rating of BB or lower; issued for leveraged buyouts and other takeovers by companies with questionable credit municipal bond a bond issued by a state or local government noncallable bond a bond containing a provision that the holder cannot redeem the security before a specific date (usually at maturity) performance bond, surety bond a bond given to protect the recipient against loss in case the terms of a contract are not filled; a surety company assumes liability for nonperformance post-obit bond a bond made by a reversioner to secure a loan; payable out of his reversion registered bond a bond whose owner is recorded on the books of the issuer; can be transferred to another owner only when endorsed by the registered owner revenue bond a bond issued by an agency that is commissioned to finance public works; revenue from the public property is used to pay off the bond secured bond a bond that is back by collateral debenture, debenture bond, unsecured bond the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future zero coupon bond, zero-coupon bond a bond that is issued at a deep discount from its value at maturity and pays no interest during the life of the bond; the commonest form of zero-coupon security share any of the equal portions into which the capital stock of a corporation is divided and ownership of which is evidenced by a stock certificate Premium Bond a government bond that bears no interest or capital gains but enters the holder into lotteries letter stock stock that has not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold to the general public letter bond a bond that has not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and cannot be sold to the general public OTC stock, over the counter stock, unlisted stock stock that is not listed and traded on an organized exchange type of: instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right
noun a guarantee that an obligation will be met synonyms: surety see moresee less type of: guarantee, warrant, warrantee, warranty a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications
noun property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation “bankers are reluctant to lend without good security” synonyms: surety see moresee less types: show 8 types... hide 8 types... deposit money given as security for an article acquired for temporary use earnest something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract recognisance, recognizance (law) a security entered into before a court with a condition to perform some act required by law; on failure to perform that act a sum is forfeited stock warrant, stock-purchase warrant, warrant a type of security issued by a corporation (usually together with a bond or preferred stock) that gives the holder the right to purchase a certain amount of common stock at a stated price arles, earnest money money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract bail, bail bond, bond (criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial perpetual warrant a warrant with no expiration date subscription warrant a warrant that expires on a stipulated date type of: transferred possession, transferred property a possession whose ownership changes or lapses
noun a department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers “the head of security was a former policeman” synonyms: security department see moresee less type of: department, section a specialized division of a large organization
noun an electrical device that sets off an alarm when someone tries to break in synonyms: security measure, security system see moresee less type of: electrical device a device that produces or is powered by electricity

Pronunciation US /səˈkjʊrədi/ UK /sɪˈkjʊərɪti/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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