The purpose of the article is to study the theoretical and methodological aspects of defining the definitions of "safety", "economic safety" and "economic safety of a construction enterprise". It is proved that the security of the society is characterized as an interrelation of three components: political stability, economic prosperity and defense capability of the state, which depend, in turn, both on certain internal and external parameters. Summarizing the understanding of the essence of security, the authors claim that security is a category that characterizes the state of security for the subject and the ability to resist threats. Seven stages in the development of the definition of "security" have been identified and characterized, starting from ancient times and up to our time. Carrying out a comparative analysis of the definitions of scientists regarding the essence of the economic security of an enterprise, two main approaches to its understanding are highlighted, according to which it is possible to systematize the definition: the first is a narrow one, according to which economic security is considered from the standpoint of the enterprise's security and ability to eliminate threats; the second is much broader, which includes definitions based on the established goals of the enterprise's operation. The authors proved that the formation of a system for evaluating the economic security of a construction enterprise requires studying the specifics of the industry. The specificity of the construction industry lies in its influence on other branches of the national economy of the country. It is the priority basis of economic growth; it forms the structure of the economy by implementing part of the investments in the fixed capital of other branches of production. It is substantiated that the formation of a system for evaluating the economic security of a construction enterprise requires the study of the specifics of the industry. The specificity of the construction industry lies in its influence on other branches of the national economy of the country. It is the priority basis of economic growth; it forms the structure of the economy by implementing part of the investments in the fixed capital of other branches of production. In the author's understanding, the methodological essence of the economic security of the construction enterprise is defined as the state of security of the enterprise that ensures stable functioning and achievement of the enterprise's goals in the current activity and its development in the future, taking into account the interests and interaction of interested parties. Summarizing the existing approaches to determining the components of economic security, in particular, taking into account the peculiarities of the production and commercial activity of enterprises in the construction industry, with the aim of ensuring their economic security, six of its components are identified: financial, technical and technological, personnel, market, legal, environmental. The proposed list of components not only makes it possible to take into account the sectoral features of their activity, but also makes it possible to outline the factors of the internal and external environments that affect each of them and can exert both a stabilizing and a destabilizing influence on the activity of construction enterprises in the course of their economic activity.