safety net

noun

: something that provides security against misfortune or difficulty

Examples of safety net in a Sentence

The program provides a safety net for people who have lost their jobs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Redirected toward the common good, that scale of funding could jump-start a permanent safety net, and prepare workers for what’s next. Scott Ellis, Time, 17 Oct. 2025 The other big pieces of the safety net — Social Security and Medicaid — are expected to continue paying benefits during the shutdown. Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025 But the safety net that surrounds him has holes in it and Mike finds entering the workforce to present its own challenges. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 Choose between $200 in bonus bets and a $1,000 first bet safety net with the welcome offer from bet365. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for safety net

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of safety net was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Safety net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety%20net. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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