Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

se·cu·ri·ty       (sĭ-kyŏŏr'ĭ-tē)  Pronunciation Key  n.   pl. se·cu·ri·ties Freedom from risk or danger; safety. Freedom from doubt, anxiety, or fear; confidence. Something that gives or assures safety, as: A group or department of private guards: Call building security if a visitor acts suspicious. Measures adopted by a government to prevent espionage, sabotage, or attack. Measures adopted, as by a business or homeowner, to prevent a crime such as burglary or assault: Security was lax at the firm's smaller plant. Measures adopted to prevent escape: Security in the prison is very tight. Something deposited or given as assurance of the fulfillment of an obligation; a pledge. One who undertakes to fulfill the obligation of another; a surety. A document indicating ownership or creditorship; a stock certificate or bond. [Middle English securite, from Old French, from Latin sēcūritās, from sēcūrus, secure; see secure.]

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

security
noun
1.	the state of being free from danger or injury; "we support the armed services in the name of national security" [ant: insecurity]
2.	defense against financial failure; financial independence; "his pension gave him security in his old age"; "insurance provided protection against loss of wages due to illness"
3.	freedom from anxiety or fear; "the watch dog gave her a feeling of security"
4.	a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends; "he held several valuable securities"
5.	property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation; "bankers are reluctant to lend without good security"
6.	a department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers; "the head of security was a former policeman"
7.	a guarantee that an obligation will be met
8.	an electrical device that sets off an alarm when someone tries to break in [syn: security system]
9.	measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc.; "military security has been stepped up since the recent uprising"

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: se·cu·ri·ty
Pronunciation: si-'kyur-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: freedom fromfear or anxiety security dates back into infancy —K. C. Garrison>

Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Security

An instrument representing ownership (stocks), a debt agreement (bonds), or the rights to ownership (derivatives).

Investopedia Commentary

A security is essentially a contract that can be assigned a value and traded.

Examples of a security include a note, stock, preferred share, bond, debenture, option, future, swap, right, warrant, or virtually any other financial asset.

Related Links

Stock Basics Tutorial
Bond Basics Tutorial
Mutual Fund Basics Tutorial
How Does Someone Actually Transact Securities?

See also: Blue Chip, Corporation, Earnings, Equity, Penny Stock, Shareholder, Shares, Stock

Also spelled: securities

Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This
security

1. An instrument that, for a stock, shows ownership in a firm; for a bond, indicates a creditor relationship with a firm or with a federal, state, or local government; orsignifies other rights to ownership.
2. Collateral used to guarantee repayment of a debt.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: se·cur·i·ty
Pronunciation: si-'kyur-&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
1 a :something (as a mortgage or collateral) that is provided to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation <used his property as security for a loan> b : SURETY —see also SECURITY FOR COSTS
2: evidence of indebtedness, ownership, or the right to ownership; specifically : evidence of investment in a common enterprise (as a corporation or partnership) made with theexpectation of deriving a profit solely from the efforts of others who acquire control over the funds invested <a security involves some form of investment contract> —see also DUE DILIGENCE

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asset–backed security
: a security (as a bond) that represents ownership in or issecured by a pool of assets (as loans or receivables) that have been securitized

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bearer security
: a security (as a bearer bond) that is not registered and is payable to anyone inpossession of it

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cer·tif·i·cat·ed security
/s&r-'ti-f&-"kA-t&d-/
: a security that belongs to or is divisible into a class orseries of shares, participations, interests, or obligations, is a commonly recognized medium of investment, and is represented on an instrument payable to the bearer or a specified person or on aninstrument registered on books by or on behalf of the issuer

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convertible security
: a security (as a share of preferred stock) that the owner has the right to convert into a shareor obligation of another class or series (as common stock)

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debt security
: a security (as a bond) serving as evidence of the indebtedness of the issuer (as a government orcorporation) to the owner

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equity security
: a security (as a share of stock) serving as evidence of an ownership interest in the issuer; also : one convertible to orserving as evidence of a right to purchase, sell, or subscribe to such a security

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ex·empt·ed security
: a security (as a government bond) exempt from particularrequirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (as those relating to registration on a security exchange)

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fixed–income security
: a security (as a bond) that providesa fixed rate of return on an investment (as because of a fixed interest rate or dividend)

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government security
: a security (as a Treasury bill) that is issued by a government, agovernment agency, or a corporation in which a government has a direct or indirect interest

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hybrid security
: a security with characteristics of both an equity security and a debtsecurity

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mortgage–backed security
: a security that represents ownership in or is secured by a pool of mortgage obligations; specifically : a pass-throughsecurity based on mortgage obligations

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pass–through security
: a security representing an ownership interest in a pool of debt obligations from which payments of interest andprincipal pass from the debtor through an intermediary (as a bank) to the investor; especially : one based on a pool of mortgage obligations guaranteed by a federal government agency—compare COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATION, REMIC

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registered security
1 : a security (as a registered bond) whose owner is registered on the books of the issuer
2 : a securitythat is to be offered for sale and for which a registration statement has been submitted

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restricted security
: a security accompanied by restrictions on its free transfer orregistration of transfer

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shelf security
: a corporate security held for deferred issue in a shelf registration

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Treasury security
: a security issued by agovernment treasury : TREASURY 3

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un·cer·tif·i·cat·ed security
/"&n-s&r-'ti-f&-"kA-t&d-/
: a security that belongs to or is divisible into a class or series of shares, participations, interests, or obligations, that is acommonly recognized medium of investment, that is not represented by an instrument, and the transfer of which is registered on books by or on behalf of the issuer

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unregistered security
: a security for which a registration statement has not been filed

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when–is·sued security
: a security traded on a conditional basis prior to its issue
3a : measures taken to guard against espionage or sabotage, crime, attack, or escape b : an organization or department whose task is security

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Security-Widefield, CO (CDP, FIPS 68820) Location: 38.74397 N, 104.71149 W
Population (1990): 23822 (8435 housing units)
Area: 38.2 sq km (land), 1.3 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Security

Se*cu"ri*ty\, n.; pl. Securities. [L. securitas: cf. F. s['e]curit['e]. See Secure, and cf. Surety.]

1. The condition or quality of being secure; secureness. Specifically: (a) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of power of safety; hence, assurance; certainty.

His trembling hand had lost the ease, Which marks security to please. --Sir W. Scott. (b) Hence, carelessness; negligence; heedlessness.

He means, my lord, that we are too remiss, Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security, Grows strong and great in substance and in power. --Shak. (c) Freedom from risk; safety.

Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security. --Shak.

Some . . . alleged that we should have no security for our trade. --Swift.

2. That which secures or makes safe; protection; guard; defense. Specifically: (a) Something given, deposited, or pledged, to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or the like; surety; pledge.

Those who lent him money lent it on no security but his bare word. --Macaulay. (b) One who becomes surety for another, or engages himself for the performance of another's obligation.

3. An evidence of debt or of property, as a bond, a certificate of stock, etc.; as, government securities.

Syn: Protection; defense; guard; shelter; safety; certainty; ease; assurance; carelessness; confidence; surety; pledge; bail.