vulnerable

 
Pronunciation: /ˈvʌln(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adjective

  • exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally: we were in a vulnerable position small fish are vulnerable to predators
  • Bridge (of a partnership) liable to higher penalties, either by convention or through having won one game towards a rubber: the authors advise a variable no-trump opening bid which means weak non-vulnerable and strong vulnerable

Derivatives

vulnerability

Pronunciation: /-ˈbɪlɪti/
noun (plural vulnerabilities)

vulnerableness

noun

vulnerably

adverb

Origin:

early 17th century: from late Latin vulnerabilis, from Latin vulnerare 'to wound', from vulnus 'wound'

Spelling help

Remember that vulnerable is spelled with an l before the n.