Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - vulnerable

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Someone who is vulnerable is weak and without protection, with the result that they are easily hurt physically or emotionally. Old people are particularly vulnerable members of our society. ADJ • vulnerability (vulnerabilities) David accepts his own vulnerability. N-VAR 2. If a person, animal, or plant is vulnerable to a disease, they are more likely to get it than other people, animals, or plants. People with high blood pressure are especially vulnerable to diabetes... = prone, susceptible ADJ: usu v-link ADJ to n • vulnerability Taking long-term courses of certain medicines may increase vulnerability to infection. N-UNCOUNT 3. Something that is vulnerable can be easily harmed or affected by something bad. Their tanks would be vulnerable to attack from the air... Goodyear could be vulnerable in a prolonged economic slump. ADJ: oft ADJ to n • vulnerability ...anxieties about the country’s vulnerability to invasion. N-UNCOUNT