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.
Vance said the bill incentivizes domestic manufacturing, a key sector in Wisconsin's economy, while also impacting social safety net programs. Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Chandler Police investigators also found that a safety net for the pool was not in use on the evening that Brady Kiser allowed Trigg to play outside near the pool. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025 The survey found that most respondents claim that their main safety net is credit, rather than savings, and that the amount people are saving is shrinking. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 27 Aug. 2025 That’s a pretty good safety net. Joe Smith, New York Times, 27 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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