safe space

noun

|Updated on: 17 Jun 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

The evening provided a safe space for artists of all ages to express themselves and to bond with one another.

— quoron walker, Courant Community, "Youth Led Open Mic Honors Mothers," 12 June 2018
And the event also provides a safe space for people of color to talk about the politics of life that often accompany the dinning experience.

— terrell jermaine starr, The Root, "Cocktails and Conversation: Bartender Tiffanie Barriere on the Art of the Pour and Why the Iconoclast Dinner Experience Matters," 11 June 2018
Fifty percent of the proceeds from the month of June will go to The Center to help empower the LGBTQ community and provide a safe space that celebrates equality, diversity, and inclusivity.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Milk Makeup Launched a Glitter Collection for Pride Month," 4 June 2018
This group aims to provide a safe space for women to share and write their stories in a fully supportive environment without fear of retribution.

— lisa deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Finding her voice with other veterans," 3 June 2018
Animal advocates rallied, Sen. José Menéndez made calls, a Hill Country sanctuary provided a safe space for the primate and everyone celebrated a happy ending.

— peggy fikac, San Antonio Express-News, "Charlie’s plight a ‘tiny story in a massive story of cruelty’: sanctuary founder," 13 May 2018
The players would like to believe there's a safe space between egregious fashion violations and pedantic enforcement — and that space may emerge soon.

— gabe lacques, USA TODAY, "MLB cleat flap: As Ben Zobrist's peers lend support, uniform regulations may be loosened," 13 May 2018
Shawn has designed a community that does not compromise on training and still provides a safe space.

— emily harger, San Francisco Chronicle, "Oakland fight gym opens its doors for all," 28 Apr. 2018
Randall and Beth’s was definitely a safe space for her.

— refinery29.com, "This Is Us Season 2, Episode 17 Recap: "This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life"," 7 Mar. 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.