plural safeties
1
: the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss
2
: a device (as on a weapon or a machine) designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous operation
3
a(1)
: a situation in football in which a member of the offensive team is tackled behind its own goal line that counts two points for the defensive team compare touchback
(2)
: a member of a defensive backfield in football who occupies the deepest position in order to receive a kick, defend against a forward pass, or stop a ballcarrier
b
: a billiard shot made with no attempt to score or so as to leave the balls in an unfavorable position for the opponent
c
: base hit
safetied; safetying
: to protect against failure, breakage, or accident
safety a rifle
Synonyms
Examples of safety in a Sentence
Noun
The changes were made in the interest of public safety.
He made some suggestions about how to improve airline safety.
I'm worried about the safety of the people who were left behind.
We were reluctant to leave the relative safety of our hotel.
She was only a mile from the safety of her home when the accident occurred.
The car has been redesigned for improved safety.
The toys are inspected for safety.
They were led to safety by the rescuers.
The injured hiker was finally able to reach safety.
Recent Examples on the Web
Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
Ser declined to release him, in spite of the safety concerns raised in court.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Studies show diverging diamonds improve safety Diverging diamonds generally improve safety for freeway interchanges which serve surface streets, according to various studies.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
The rules prohibit some uses – routine AI-enabled facial recognition by law enforcement, for one – while requiring other programs to submit information about safety and public risks.
—David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
In photos shared by officials, the horse is seen walking up to the train station, crossing the platform, then stopping at the safety line that keeps people far enough away from the track.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Revoking Rupp-Jones’ nursing license Much like Yorker, Weber says Rupp-Jones working as a nurse would threaten the safety of patients.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Fortunately, a pair of tugboats were able to rescue the U.S.-flagged vessel and tow it to safety, where it was determined a broken air compressor valve was to blame.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Aina says non-birthing families and community members who are concerned for the safety of Black people giving birth can better advocate on their behalf by educating themselves on the risks and the rights of birthing people.
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
Siyi Zhao Lam Yik Fei, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The next day, at 4:20 a.m., the ship’s chief engineer, Fred Gilbert, sounded the alarm that the ship was sinking, and the crew, afraid for their lives, abandoned the ship, getting off — and to safety aboard the Collingwood.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 13 Feb. 2024
Search-and-rescue teams brought 23 skiers and snowboarders who got lost in the Vermont backcountry to safety Saturday amid single-digit temperatures, authorities said.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024
The ball, however, went directly to safety Jaquiski Tartt, who dropped it.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2024
So obviously, on the next play from scrimmage, Niners safety Tashaun Gipson hit Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs and knocked the ball free.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2024
Rams safety Jordan Fuller, a team captain, is a pending unrestricted free agent.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Such as moving from quarterback to safety deep into his Stanford career, after Walsh showed him film of Ronnie Lott.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024
The team found the final two skiers and walked them to safety around 7:30 p.m.
Killington Fire/Rescue, Killington Resort Ski Patrol, Rescue Inc. and State PSAP/Dispatch also helped with large rescue mission.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024
Noun
With predators more active during the daytime, the website recommends visiting the live stream at night to spot fish swimming in the safety of darkness.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
Ser declined to release him, in spite of the safety concerns raised in court.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Studies show diverging diamonds improve safety Diverging diamonds generally improve safety for freeway interchanges which serve surface streets, according to various studies.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
The rules prohibit some uses – routine AI-enabled facial recognition by law enforcement, for one – while requiring other programs to submit information about safety and public risks.
—David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
In photos shared by officials, the horse is seen walking up to the train station, crossing the platform, then stopping at the safety line that keeps people far enough away from the track.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Revoking Rupp-Jones’ nursing license Much like Yorker, Weber says Rupp-Jones working as a nurse would threaten the safety of patients.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Fortunately, a pair of tugboats were able to rescue the U.S.-flagged vessel and tow it to safety, where it was determined a broken air compressor valve was to blame.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Aina says non-birthing families and community members who are concerned for the safety of Black people giving birth can better advocate on their behalf by educating themselves on the risks and the rights of birthing people.
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
Even the two buildings that suffered the most damage remained largely intact, allowing residents to climb to safety out the windows of upper stories.
—Siyi Zhao Lam Yik Fei, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The next day, at 4:20 a.m., the ship’s chief engineer, Fred Gilbert, sounded the alarm that the ship was sinking, and the crew, afraid for their lives, abandoned the ship, getting off — and to safety aboard the Collingwood.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 13 Feb. 2024
Search-and-rescue teams brought 23 skiers and snowboarders who got lost in the Vermont backcountry to safety Saturday amid single-digit temperatures, authorities said.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024
The ball, however, went directly to safety Jaquiski Tartt, who dropped it.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2024
So obviously, on the next play from scrimmage, Niners safety Tashaun Gipson hit Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs and knocked the ball free.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2024
Rams safety Jordan Fuller, a team captain, is a pending unrestricted free agent.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Such as moving from quarterback to safety deep into his Stanford career, after Walsh showed him film of Ronnie Lott.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024
The team found the final two skiers and walked them to safety around 7:30 p.m.
Killington Fire/Rescue, Killington Resort Ski Patrol, Rescue Inc. and State PSAP/Dispatch also helped with large rescue mission.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'safety.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near safety
Cite this Entry
“Safety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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