safety

American  

[seyf-tee] / ˈseɪf ti /

noun

PLURAL

safeties

1. the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.

2. the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.

3. a contrivance or device to prevent injury or avert danger.

4. Also called lock, safety catch, safety lock.  a locking or cutoff device that prevents a gun from being fired accidentally.

5. the action of keeping safe.

6. Football.

   1. an act or play in which a player on the offensive team is tackled in his own end zone or downs the ball there, or in which the ball goes out of bounds on a fumble, having last been in bounds in or over the end zone and having last been in the possession of an offensive player.

   2. an award of two points to the opposing team on this play.

   3. Also called safety man.  a player on defense who lines up farthest behind the line of scrimmage.

7. Baseball.  a base hit, especially a one-base hit.

8. Slang.  a condom.

9. Obsolete.  close confinement or custody.

---

safety British  

/ ˈseɪftɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being safe

2. freedom from danger or risk of injury

3. a contrivance or device designed to prevent injury

4. American football

   1. Also called: safetyman.  either of two players who defend the area furthest back in the field

   2. a play in which the offensive team causes the ball to cross its own goal line and then grounds the ball behind that line, scoring two points for the opposing team Compare touchback

---

Other Word Forms

• self-safety noun
• supersafety noun

Etymology

Origin of safety

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sauvete, from Middle French; equivalent to safe + -ty ²

Example Sentences

Last month, it became the first provider to offer autonomous trips on U.S. freeways without a safety monitor.

From MarketWatch

Sheffield Wednesday have been given a further six-point deduction by the English Football League for regulation breaches leaving them 27 points from safety in the Championship.

From BBC

They tried to get the patient to safety, but the teen was then hit by a car on the southbound carriageway.

From BBC

While a small number of affected planes are in service, Airbus hasn’t identified any immediate safety risk, according to a person familiar with the situation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr Barr said an "offshore reorganisation" was a necessary step, while maintaining a commitment to safety and regulatory standards.

From BBC

Related Words

• freedom
• security