secured

Secured is the past participle of the verb secure and is used as an adjective to indicate that something is protected, guaranteed, or pledged as security. It commonly describes arrangements, conditions, or states that have a protective or binding quality.

In law and finance, secured describes obligations backed by collateral. A secured loan or secured debt gives the lender a security interest in specified assets, and on default the lender may claim the collateral. Examples include mortgages on real property and vehicle loans. This concept is contrasted with unsecured debt, which has no asset pledged as security. Security interests are typically created by a security agreement and perfected through filing a financing statement, making the lien enforceable against third parties.

In business and project contexts, secured can refer to actions that ensure funding, regulatory approval, or favorable contract terms. In information technology and cybersecurity, secured often describes systems, channels, or data protected by cryptography and access controls, such as secured communications (for example, TLS/SSL) and secured storage. The term is also used in marketing to indicate enhanced protections, though technical details may vary.

Etymology: Secured derives from secure, which originates from Latin securus, conveying safety or freedom from danger. In usage, it conveys reliability, protection, or a guaranteed state.

See also: secured debt; security interest; mortgage; collateral; unsecured debt; cybersecurity; encryption.