vulnerable

/ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/

//ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"vulnerable" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“vulnerable” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,095 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#5,095
frequency rank, English
10
letters
16
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

vulnerable vs venerable
80% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for vulnerable
PropertyValue
Headwordvulnerable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/
Letters10
Frequency rank#5,095
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vulnerable” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). vulnerable lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for vulnerable is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,095 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for vulnerable, with forms such as "uvlnerable", "vlunerable", and "vulenrable". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "venerable", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin vulnerābilis (“injurious, wounding”), from Latin vulnerō (“I wound”). The correct English form is vulnerable, spelled V-U-L-N-E-R-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
  2. 2
    More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
  3. 3
    More likely to be exposed to malicious programs or viruses.
  4. 4
    at moderate risk of extinction though not quite endangered.

Etymology

From Late Latin vulnerābilis (“injurious, wounding”), from Latin vulnerō (“I wound”).

Synonyms

defencelesshelplesspowerlessunguardedunprotectedweakwoundable

Antonyms

durableindomitableinvincibleinvulnerablepowerfulstrong

This word in other languages

vulnerable(Español)vulnérable(Français)verletzlich(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: uvlnerable,vlunerable,vulenrable,vullnerable,vulnearble,vulnerabble,vulnerabel,vulnerablle,vulneralbe,vulnerbale,vulnerible,vulnerrable,vulnnerable,vulnreable,vunlerable,vvulnerable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of vulnerable - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

uvlnerable2vlunerable2vulenrable2vullnerable1vulnearble2vulnerabble1vulnerabel2vulnerablle1
Edit distance from "vulnerable"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "vulnerable"?
"vulnerable" is spelled V-U-L-N-E-R-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/.
What does "vulnerable" mean?
As an adjective, "vulnerable" means: More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
What words are commonly confused with "vulnerable"?
"vulnerable" is commonly confused with "venerable". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "vulnerable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vulnerable" is /ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "vulnerable"?
From Late Latin vulnerābilis (“injurious, wounding”), from Latin vulnerō (“I wound”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “vulnerable”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is V-U-L-N-E-R-A-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “venerable” - see the side-by-side comparison. vulnerable vs venerable
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list