safe space

noun

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Definition of safe space

: 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

Recent Examples of safe space from the Web

Talk to your co-workers about Ramadan and its significance to you, and state your expectations to be accommodated, such as time to break your fast and a safe space to pray.

— tasnim ahmed, Allure, "Observing Ramadan Means So Much More to Me Than Just Fasting," 15 May 2018
The words internet and safe space don't go together often these days.

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "The Women Keeping Reddit's Beauty Community a Judgement-Free Space," 24 Apr. 2018
Keep the lid off and transfer the metal base to the kitchen sink or other safe space away from plastic or meltable materials.

— alex van buren, idahostatesman, "Instant Pot vs. Dutch oven: Which makes better food? | Idaho Statesman," 22 Feb. 2018
Make sure that people have a safe space to pursue work in their community, to bring their whole selves to work and participate in their communities as well.

— carly berwick /, NBC News, "Beyond diversity hiring: How Google's Reena Jana is creating a more inclusive workplace," 8 Feb. 2018
The Women’s House is open every Sunday to provide support and a safe space for migrant women and girls to gather.

— alice driver, Longreads, "The Mutilated and the Disappeared," 31 Jan. 2018
Bertke goes on to discuss his dislike for people who want safe spaces or trigger warnings.

— megan farokhmanesh, The Verge, "Disney remixer Pogo can’t walk back his homophobic comments on YouTube," 1 June 2018
Some services in America, like the Haven Coalition, or the Midwest Access Coalition are already helping offer women traveling for abortions a safe space to stay.

— jennifer wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Will Kill Roe," 11 July 2018
For both dogs and cats, create a safe space inside the house with music or white noise that drowns out the fireworks and keeps them calm.

— cathy m. rosenthal, courant.com, "Pet World: Helping Dogs And Cats Survive The Fourth Of July," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'safe space.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.