safe house

American  

noun

1. a dwelling or building whose conventional appearance makes it a safe or inconspicuous place for hiding, taking refuge, or carrying on clandestine activities.

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safe house British  

noun

1. a place used secretly by undercover agents, terrorists, etc, as a meeting place or refuge

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Etymology

Origin of safe house

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Authorities worried that the departure of the player would reveal the location of the remaining six, so they moved them to a new safe house.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

The government had spent days in secret talks with the players, who were whisked to a safe house after leaving their hotel on the Gold Coast.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

Humanitarian workers here also fear that cuts may soon affect support for victims of violence in places like the safe house where Helene lives.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

I prepared a very small backpack with just a few clothes, no electronic equipment, and went to the safe house where one of my friends was.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2024

I thought back to one afternoon when Thembi was a boy and he came to visit me at a safe house in Cyrildene that I used for secret ANC work.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela