insecurity
UK[ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərəti]US[ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊrəti]
n
A feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; lack of confidence.
n
The state of being open to danger or threat; lack of protection.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
secure
ity
in
not
secure
safe
ity
state of
Etymology
The word 'insecurity' is built upon the Latin adjective 'securus', which itself combines 'se-' (apart, without) and 'cura' (care, anxiety), literally meaning "without care" in the sense of being safe and untroubled. The addition of the negative prefix 'in-' reverses this meaning to "not safe" or "not free from care". The suffix '-ity', denoting a state or quality, transforms the adjective into a noun describing the condition of being unsafe or uncertain. Thus, the term's journey from a literal Latin description of safety to its modern abstract meanings—encompassing both physical vulnerability and psychological self-doubt—perfectly illustrates the logical compounding of its morphemes.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + secure (safe) + ity (state of)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "not" or "without".
- secure: From Latin 'securus', meaning "free from care, safe". In this word, it functions as the core adjective.
- ity: Latin suffix '-itas', used to form nouns indicating a state or condition.
Examples
His constant need for approval stemmed from deep-seated insecurity.
The insecurity of the old bridge made it dangerous to cross.
Job insecurity is a major source of stress for many employees.