safety

American  

[seyf-tee] / ˈseɪf ti /

noun

plural

safeties

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• self-safety noun
• supersafety noun

Etymology

Origin of safety

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

Example Sentences

"But to truly unlock its potential, we need to better understand the right doses, long-term safety, and interindividual variability in response to NAD+ augmentation strategies."

From Science Daily

Sheridan assured residents that Metro’s tunnel safety report found that modern tunnel construction techniques were “very safe and successful.”

From Los Angeles Times

They consider themselves above both the law and democracy, and from the safety of their guarded homes, beyond it.

From Salon

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust did not comment on Zanib's case but said "patient outcomes and safety are at the forefront of our treatment plans for all our patients".

From BBC

These small versions of the green tech are already deployed across Europe but are not currently sold in the UK due to safety regulations.

From BBC

Related Words

• freedom
• security