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

Celebrity esthetician Ian Michael Crumm founded members-only Boys in Beauty to create a safe space to explore the male beauty conversation and create cultural moments. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Small described Southern Skates as a safe space for kids, with Dallas police providing security during events. —Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026

My safe space lies within the realm of the best gentle cleansers. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026

Montefiore responded to Wednesday's rally, saying the hospital is a safe space. —Jenna Deangelis, CBS News, 14 Jan. 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