Trivia Time

Which band released the smash hit "The Safety Dance" in the 1980s?

Test Your Knowledge

safety

American  

[sayf-tee] / ˈseɪf ti /

noun

• safeties
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• self-safety
  noun
• supersafety
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• safeties
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of safety

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

---

Explanation

A safety is a device that helps keep you from doing bad things, like the safety on a gun that prevents you from pulling the trigger accidentally. Safety, besides meaning "the state of being safe," is used for things that promote safety. If you designate a special meeting place in case of emergency, that place is a safety. If you use contraception during sex, that's also a safety, to prevent pregnancy. In football it's a safety if a player is tackled behind his own goal line. And if you hit the baseball in a way to ensure you reach the base, that's called a safety too.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

safety safeties

Despite the striking results, the scientists caution against drawing immediate conclusions about the safety of sweeteners or their interactions with prescription medications.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

Locals watched the scenes unfold from the safety of their apartments.

From Barron's ● Oct. 18, 2026

Jenner said: "A relatively small grant at exactly the right time can make a profound difference to a child's safety, wellbeing, education or independence."

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

One the Chargers will have trouble stopping, as they’ll also be without key defensive players such as safety Derwin James Jr.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Or he could help the McKays, which would mean giving up his own safety.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Offensive linemen squared up against defensive linemen, while running backs took on safeties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

So in steps his protege, Chris O’Leary, who coached under him at Georgia State and Notre Dame before spending the 2024 season coaching Chargers safeties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State — John Harbaugh loves those smart safeties who can play quarterback on the back end of the defense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

Last season, the Rams thought their young and talented pass rush could compensate for their decision not to stand pat with the cornerbacks and safeties from the 2024 season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2026

This, Xan explained, was for both of their safeties.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• freedom
• security

---