insecure

/ˌin-si-ˈkyu̇r/

Medieval Latin insecurus, from Latin in- + securus secure

adjective

  1. deficient in assurance : beset by fear and anxiety

  2. not highly stable or well-adjusted

  3. not confident or sure : uncertain

always felt insecure in a group of strangers

an insecure marriage

adjective

  1. unable to consistently access or afford adequate food

According to data released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 17 percent of Americans—more than 50 million people—live in households that are "food insecure," a term that means a family sometimes runs out of money to buy food, or it sometimes runs out of food before it can get more money.