Vulnerable means being open to attack or harm. It can also mean being easily influenced or persuaded.
For example, a tree that is leaning over a river is vulnerable to falling over. A child who is alone in a park is vulnerable to being abducted.
In science, vulnerability can be used to describe a system that is susceptible to damage or destruction. For example, an ecosystem that is polluted is vulnerable to collapse.
The city was vulnerable to attack because it was not well-defended.
Adjective:
Noun: a vulnerable person or thing.
The word "vulnerable" comes from the Latin word "vulnerabilis", which means "capable of being wounded".
The first recorded use of the word "vulnerable" in English was in the 16th century.
When might something be vulnerable?
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