: not secure: such as
a
: not confident about yourself or your ability to do things well : nervous and uncomfortable
I feel shy and insecure around strangers.
—often + aboutShe used to be insecure about her height.
He felt insecure about the idea of becoming a father.
Many young people are insecure about the future. [=they believe that bad things might happen in the future]
b
: not certain to continue or be successful for a long time
an insecure investment
He has always held low-paying, insecure jobs. [=jobs that people can lose easily]
Most of these families are economically insecure. [=they do not have a dependable source of money]
c
: not locked or well protected
One of the building's rear doors was insecure.
The country's borders remain insecure.
Cite this Entry
“Insecure.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/insecure. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
