safety net

noun

: something that provides security against misfortune or difficulty

Examples of safety net in a Sentence

The program provides a safety net for people who have lost their jobs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
New users will have the choice between betting $5 to get the $150 bonus offer or using the $1,000 first bet safety net for the NBA Finals or any other game. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025 These extra costs would rise due to cuts to safety net programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, or SNAP. Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 In the last few months, large numbers of anti-Trump protesters have come out in the streets across the U.S., on occasions like the April 5 Hands Off protests against safety net budget cuts and government downsizing. Jeremy Pressman, The Conversation, 15 June 2025 This growing crisis is undermining trust in the safety net and exhausting community support. Christina Hanson, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for safety net

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of safety net was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Safety net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety%20net. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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