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
Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Soldiers capable of charging and using melee attacks were closer to the enemy, while spellcasters and long range attackers were behind the safety of walls and building corners.
—Desirae Sin, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 14 Dec. 2024
But on the very next play, backup QB Christian Veilleux threw a pass straight to safety Malik Dixon-Williams for the Huskies second interception of the day.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for safety 
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.
Noun
After the March 19 incident, Huger, 61, was charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.
—Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Soldiers capable of charging and using melee attacks were closer to the enemy, while spellcasters and long range attackers were behind the safety of walls and building corners.
—Desirae Sin, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
On April 29, 2007, while pulling wounded Marines to safety in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, he was killed by an enemy sniper.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 14 Dec. 2024
But on the very next play, backup QB Christian Veilleux threw a pass straight to safety Malik Dixon-Williams for the Huskies second interception of the day.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for safety
Dictionary Entries Near safety
Cite this Entry
“Safety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share