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

The events have become a safe space for people of color to dance, relax and enjoy music with a cultural connection. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

My mission is to get everyone to bring their authentic selves to the characters by creating that safe space for the actors to play. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2026

Another parent shared how food became a safe space during a particularly difficult time. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026

Attendees saw the event as a safe space to connect with others in the fandom, which has long been stigmatized. —Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 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