Showing definitions for safe space

safe space

American

[seyf speys] / ˈseɪf ˈspeɪs /

noun

a place that provides a physically and emotionally safe environment for a person or group of people, especially a place where people can freely express themselves without fear of prejudice, negative judgment, etc..

a safe space for single moms to share their experiences.

Usage

What does safe space mean? A safe space is a physical or metaphorical place for people, usually of marginalized identities, to feel free of judgment or harm

Etymology

Origin of safe space

First recorded in 2005–10

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.

“I love this sort of ceremonial procession as you walk through the sphinxes and columns — these figures who have created safe space for me, literally, conceptually, spiritually,” Halsey says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

The couple began by trying different harnesses and getting Roo used to it in the house before introducing a travel backpack Roo could use if she needed a safe space while out and about.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

In 2014, Rivera-Amador and Hollinquest founded the Radical Monarchs in Oakland — giving girls and gender expansive youth of color ages 8 through 13 a safe space to practice self-love, sisterhood and activism.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

And 12-step support groups, including Debtors Anonymous, provide a safe space to talk about your willingness to splurge.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

She provided the safe space of a reading room on the first floor, low-rent lodging upstairs, and an employment bureau to provide leads on jobs.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023