vulnerable
VUL-ner-uh-bul
/ˈvʌl.nɚ.ə.bəl/
Susceptible to physical harm or damage; in ecology, facing a high risk of endangerment in the wild.
In formal conservation systems, 'vulnerable' denotes a specific risk category situated just below 'endangered'.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin vulnus ('wound'). Roman military leaders used vulnerabilis to describe soldiers whose armor was breached or whose position left them exposed to spears. Conservationists adapted it to mark species exposed to human encroachment.
Word relationships
- susceptible: Susceptible focuses on a tendency to suffer from a specific condition, while vulnerable implies open exposure to harm.
- resilient: Able to withstand, adapt to, or recover quickly from environmental stress.
Commonly confused with
- endangered: Vulnerable species face risk of endangerment over time, whereas endangered species face immediate extinction threats.
Word family
- vulnerability (noun): The state of being exposed to damage or harm.
Collocations
- vulnerable species
- highly vulnerable
- vulnerable to climate change
- vulnerable state
Example sentences
- "Polar bear populations are designated as vulnerable due to the rapid decline of summer sea ice." Arctic wildlife survey
- "Low-lying coastal ecosystems are extraordinarily vulnerable to severe storm surges and sea level rise." Climate risk report
Memory hook
VULNERABLE = exposed to receiving a VULNERATION (wound). Exposed to potential harm.
When not to use
Do not treat as synonymous with 'extinct' or 'hopeless'—vulnerable species are surviving but exposed to real threats.
Fun facts
- In ancient Roman legal Latin, a vulnerator was an assailant who inflicted physical bodily wounds.
Related words
Explore more words
vulnerability, susceptibility, Exposure, tender, sustainable, frontline
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