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

Nature offered a safe space for us. —Brad Ryan, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026

The District has grief counselors on hand who can provide a safe space during this unbearable time. —Tony Aiello, CBS News, 11 June 2026

For example, financial insecurity, food access problems, and lack of access to a safe space to exercise can contribute to overall stress, as well as high blood pressure, heart disease, and other poor health outcomes. —Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 11 June 2026

Because those are the leaders that have been your child’s safe space. —Samuel O’Neal June 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026

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