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

Their apartment became a safe space, where they not only got engaged but also tied the knot. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 4 May 2025

Today, the salon gives us a safe space to protect our hair, continue intergenerational beauty rituals, and define our sense of style and self-expression. —Ava Pauline Emilione, Them., 29 Apr. 2025

These relationships become a sounding board offering insight, accountability and a safe space to grow. —Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Create a safe space Home should be a place where kids feel safe enough to let loose. —Liz Regalia, Parents, 9 Apr. 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