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

Border Patrol arrests in Charlotte That safe space was needed more than ever this week in Charlotte, prior to Border Patrol leaving. —Charlotte Observer, 24 Nov. 2025

Join this workshop with Hope Hospice, which offers a safe space to discuss the unique considerations of grieving during the holidays. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025

Crate training has given the doodle a safe space to relax, while medication and proper nutrition support her physical recovery. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025

The app opens with Blippi’s signature colors, blue and orange, and a video from the man himself, welcoming me into a safe space to play with his signature cheerful attitude. —Taylor Grothe, Parents, 16 Nov. 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