safety

[ seyf-tee ]

/ ˈseɪf ti /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR safety ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural safe·ties.

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

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

a contrivance or device to prevent injury or avert danger.

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

the action of keeping safe.

Football.

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.Compare touchback.
an award of two points to the opposing team on this play.
Also called safety man. a player on defense who lines up farthest behind the line of scrimmage.

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

Slang. a condom.

Obsolete. close confinement or custody.

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Origin of safety

1250–1300; Middle English sauvete<Middle French. See safe, -ty²

OTHER WORDS FROM safety

self-safety, nounsu·per·safe·ty, noun

Words nearby safety

safe period, safe seat, safe sex, safe space, safe surfing, safety, safety belt, safety car, safety catch, safety chain, safety circuit

Example sentences from the Web for safety

The unidentified employee asked whether the rating of the system’s risks should be raised, which may have prompted a more thorough safety review.
Boeing crashes were the “horrific culmination” of multiple mistakes, House report says|kdunn6|September 16, 2020|Fortune
While the active pharmaceutical ingredient remains the same, excipients may be different, and even seemingly slight differences can significantly impact patient safety.
The ‘inactive' ingredients in your pills could harm you|By Yelena Ionova/The Conversation|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
Customers are given about 48 hours’ notice, at the most, that their power will be cut — known as a public safety power shutoff.
Environment Report: State Throws Cold Water on Pricing Scheme|MacKenzie Elmer|September 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Milton claimed the parts had been taken out of the truck for safety reasons.
Nikola stock craters after chairman fails to rebut fraud allegations|Timothy B. Lee|September 11, 2020|Ars Technica

He said this was especially true for vaccines, which are tested on healthy people, and therefore have a higher safety threshold for adverse side effects than medicines that are designed to treat people who are already ill.
COVID-19 vaccine still on track for later this year despite trial pause, AstraZeneca CEO says|Jeremy Kahn|September 10, 2020|Fortune
Not for the benefit of the harasser, of course, but for your own safety.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism|Arthur Chu|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There was virtually no government oversight of safety and operational standards.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Helicopters lifted pregnant women and children to safety first.
‘We’re Going to Die’: Survivors Recount Greek Ferry Fire Horror|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before the Maidan revolution, Russian political refugees living in Kiev were worried about their safety.
Russians Plot Exiled Government in Kiev|Anna Nemtsova|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the safety of the light of day, we positively revel in our facts.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was the only method of safety, and I am glad we have it at last.
Current History, Vol. VIII, No. 3, June 1918|Various
Nevertheless it was so deceptive that when the Nell came in sight she was not close enough to the left shore for safety.
A Canyon Voyage|Frederick S. Dellenbaugh
Only in forbidding tenement-house manufacture absolutely can there be any safety for either consumer or producer.
Prisoners of Poverty|Helen Campbell
Luckily nothing more happened, and they were able to reach the opposite shore in safety.
The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields|Lieut. Howard Payson
She was almost exhilarated by the feeling of safety which enveloped her like comforting warmth.
A Bed of Roses|W. L. George

British Dictionary definitions for safety

safety

/ (ˈseɪftɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the quality of being safe

freedom from danger or risk of injury

a contrivance or device designed to prevent injury

American football

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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safety

noun, plural safe·ties.

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Origin of safety

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Example sentences from the Web for safety

British Dictionary definitions for safety

noun plural -ties

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

safety

noun, plural safe·ties.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

Origin of safety

OTHER WORDS FROM safety

Words nearby safety

Words related to safety

Example sentences from the Web for safety

British Dictionary definitions for safety

noun plural -ties