safeguard
Americannoun
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something that serves as a protection or defense or that ensures safety.
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a permit for safe passage.
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a guard or convoy.
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a mechanical device for ensuring safety.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a person or thing that ensures protection against danger, damage, injury, etc
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a document authorizing safe-conduct
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has safeguardedperfect 3rd person singular
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have safeguardedperfect
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are safeguardingprogressive
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safeguardingparticiple
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has been safeguardingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is safeguardingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been safeguardingperfect progressive
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am safeguardingprogressive 1st person singular
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safeguardssingular 3rd person
Past
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had safeguardedperfect
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was safeguardingprogressive singular
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had been safeguardingperfect progressive
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safeguardedparticiple
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were safeguardingprogressive plural
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safeguardedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of safeguard
1325–75; Middle English savegarde (noun) safe conduct < Middle French salvegarde, sauvegarde. See safe, guard
Explanation
A safeguard is a defense or precaution. You could describe a flu shot as a safeguard against getting sick, for example. Safeguards protect against something negative, whether it's an attacking army invading a country or a boy you don't like much asking you to the prom. A store's security system is a safeguard against theft, and a secret password is a safeguard against your sister reading your email. You can use it as a verb too: "We clearly need to safeguard our Halloween candy so Mom and Dad don't steal it after we go to bed."
Vocabulary lists containing safeguard
Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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Herbert Hoover on "Rugged Individualism" (1928)
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A Single Shard
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Though not well known and perennially underenforced, this clause provides an important hook for congressional action to safeguard an inclusive, multiracial democracy.
From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026
China is tightening scrutiny of outbound capital flows after forcing the unwinding of the Meta-Manus deal, as authorities seek to safeguard the economy amid heightened technology rivalry with the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
According to the complaint filed in the San Francisco Superior Court this week, 23andMe “misled consumers and failed to take obvious steps necessary to safeguard its customers’ sensitive personal information.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026
In response to Sejourne's comments, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned China "will take all necessary measures" to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
“It serves several purposes. Primarily, it is my connection to the circus, but it also functions as a safeguard of a sort. I neglected the fact that it does not cover those outside the fence.”
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
