safe space

noun

: a place (as on a college campus) intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations

… student volunteers put up posters advertising that a "safe space" would be available for anyone who found the debate too upsetting.

—Judith Shulevitz

Women, sexual assault victims, people of color, transgender students. College campuses have created "safe spaces" for all sorts of marginalized groups.

—Catherine Rampell

Examples of safe space in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At its core, coaching means creating a safe space where others can think, reflect and arrive at their own solutions. —Elif Suner, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

Death Cafe gatherings create an inviting, safe space to share the heartfelt experience of diving into a taboo topic which unites everyone. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025

Unlike last year, where Love Island USA existed as a safe space for people to unwind and decompress from an election year, contestants on this year’s season of Love Island USA have become scapegoats for America’s worries. —Taylor Crumpton, Time, 13 July 2025

Create a safe space for everyone by telling the group they won’t be required to share that experience publicly. —Jay Sullivan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for safe space

• aerospace
• anatase
• anyplace
• commonplace
• cyberspace
• database
• diabase
• diastase
• dnase
• elastase
• fireplace
• hyperspace