safety valve
Americannoun
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a device that, when actuated by a gas or vapor pressure above a predetermined level, opens and allows the gas or vapor to escape until its pressure is reduced to a pressure equal to or below that of the predetermined level.
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a harmless outlet for emotion, tension, etc.
noun
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a valve in a pressure vessel that allows fluid to escape when a predetermined level of pressure has been reached
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a harmless outlet for emotion, energy, tension, etc
Etymology
Origin of safety valve
First recorded in 1805–15
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.
In addition, they note that now, parents will still have access to the debt, but thanks to the changes to repayment, they won’t have much of a safety valve if it becomes unmanageable.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
A tourist town just across the border is a safety valve for a population desperate for relief.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Dot plots and macro projections serve as a pressure safety valve where disagreement can be hashed out, without harming the consistency of the policy message.
From Barron's ● Dec. 12, 2025
In that incident, the board’s investigation found multiple safety failures, including a severely eroded safety valve that allowed flammable gases to dangerously seep into unwanted areas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2025
When pressure in the reactor gets too high, a safety valve opens and allows steam to escape into the torus, where it condenses back into water.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
