safety net

American  

noun

1. a large net rigged between a person, as a trapeze performer, and the ground as protection in a fall.

2. something that provides a margin of protection or security.

   the safety net of federal credit for financial institutions.

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safety net British  

noun

1. a net used in a circus to catch high-wire and trapeze artistes if they fall

2. any means of protection from hardship or loss, such as insurance

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Other Word Forms

• safety-net adjective

Etymology

Origin of safety net

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

He also rejects the notion that there is a binary choice between providing well-paid employment and a decent safety net through the social security system.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

We also have $200,000 in cash as a safety net.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

But if it doesn’t, dividend stocks create a solid safety net for the fog of war.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Beijing’s continued push for a stronger social safety net will eventually pay dividends, but the piecemeal annual improvements simply won’t move the needle on consumer spending in the short term.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

Everyone attending the University had a safety net to fall back on.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss