Which definition best matches the term security?

• A. Safety
• B. A general freedom from risks
• C. A defensive shield
• D. A proposal

Answer: (A)

Security is the state of being protected from danger, threat, or harm. That makes safety the closest and clearest definition, because security inherently means protection and safety from risks in practical terms. Saying it’s a general freedom from risks implies an absolute, all-encompassing absence of danger, which isn’t what security typically denotes; it’s about safeguarding against specific threats rather than promising a risk-free world. A defensive shield is a helpful image for what provides security, but it’s not the definition itself. A proposal has no relation to being secure. So safety best captures what security means.