safeguard

¹safe·guard

noun \ˈsāf-ˌgärd\

Definition of SAFEGUARD

1

a : pass, safe-conduct

b : convoy, escort

2

a : a precautionary measure, stipulation, or device

b : a technical contrivance to prevent accident

Examples of SAFEGUARD

1. The new law has safeguards to protect the rights of citizens.
2. There are many safeguards built into the system to prevent fraud.

Origin of SAFEGUARD

Middle English saufgarde, from Anglo-French, from sauf safe + garde guard

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SAFEGUARD

Synonyms

aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, guard, protection, defense, screen, security, shield, wall, ward

Related Words

arm, armament, munitions, weapon, weaponry; fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold

Near Antonyms

aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with SAFEGUARD

Asgard, backyard, barnyard, blackguard, blowhard, boatyard, bombard, boneyard, brassard, brickyard, charge card, churchyard, cloth yard, coast guard, courtyard, dance card, deeryard, die-hard, diehard, discard, dockyard, dooryard, face card, farmyard, fireguard, flash card, foulard, Fugard, Gerard, graveyard, green card, ill-starred, jacquard, junkyard, lifeguard, main yard, mansard, mass card, Midgard, milliard, mudguard, noseguard, off guard, old guard, on guard, Oxnard, phone card, Picard, placard, point guard, postcard, poularde, punch card, rear guard, rearguard, Red Guard, regard, retard, ritard, scorecard, shipyard, smart card, sound card, spikenard, steelyard, stockyard, switchyard, tabard, tanyard, tiltyard, time card, unbarred, unguard, vizard, wild card

²safeguard

transitive verb

Definition of SAFEGUARD

1

: to provide a safeguard for

2

: to make safe : protect

Examples of SAFEGUARD

1. laws that safeguard the rights of citizens
2. You need to safeguard your computer against viruses.
3. There are steps you can take to safeguard against identity theft.

First Known Use of SAFEGUARD

15th century

Related to SAFEGUARD

Synonyms

bulwark, cover, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, defend, screen, secure, shield, ward

Antonyms

assail, assault, attack

Related Words

avert, prevent; oppose, resist, withstand; battle, contend, fight, war; conserve, preserve, save; buffer, palisade, picket, wall

Near Antonyms

bombard, storm; beset, besiege, overrun; capitulate, cave, submit, yield

See Synonym Discussion at defend