securities
tradable financial assets such as stocks and bonds
In more detail
1. (noun) financial documents or certificates that represent ownership in a company (such as stocks) or a loan to a company or government (such as bonds)
2. (noun) something valuable that you give to someone as a guarantee that you will repay money you owe
Examples
- She invests in securities like stocks and bonds to build her retirement savings.
- The bank asked for securities, so we offered our house as collateral for the loan.
How to use securities
Securities is a formal financial term referring to tradeable financial assets, most commonly stocks and bonds. In the first sense, it is used primarily in investment and banking contexts. In the second sense, it refers to collateral or pledged assets and is more legal/formal in tone. The plural form is standard even when referring to a single type.
Common phrases
- securities market
- trade securities
- issue securities
- securities broker
- government securities
- corporate securities
Synonyms
stocks · bonds · shares · investments · financial instruments
Word family
secure (verb/adjective) · security (noun) · securely (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse securities with security; security is the condition of being safe or a pledge/collateral, while securities are the actual financial instruments or documents.
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