safeguard

noun safe·guard \ ˈsāf-ˌgärd \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: safeguard in a Sentence

Definition of safeguard

1 a : pass, safe-conduct

b : convoy, escort

2 a : a precautionary measure, stipulation, or device

b : a technical contrivance to prevent accident

See safeguard defined for English-language learners

See safeguard defined for kids

Examples of safeguard in a Sentence

The new law has safeguards to protect the rights of citizens.
There are many safeguards built into the system to prevent fraud.

Recent Examples of safeguard from the Web

So far, the drivers of recreational marijuana policy seem determined to sell as much marijuana in as many forms as possible, without safeguards.

— timothy naimi, BostonGlobe.com, "Why marijuana policies in Massachusetts aren’t strict enough," 20 June 2018
Scientific research conducted with appropriate safeguards is another area where collecting and using biometric or health data need not require explicit consent.

— joseph jerome, STAT, "Look to the EU’s new privacy law as a model for replacing the ‘confusing patchwork’ in the U.S.," 18 June 2018
Texas rejected NextEra’s bid when the company declined to provide certain financial and corporate-governance safeguards.

— russell gold, WSJ, "How a Florida Utility Became the Global King of Green Power," 18 June 2018
Eyal has spent much of the past year quietly visiting the country's biggest tech companies and trying to persuade top executives to install safeguards to help chronically addicted users.

— author: william wan, Anchorage Daily News, "Rebel developers are trying to cure our smartphone addiction – with an app," 18 June 2018
Eyal has spent much of the past year quietly visiting the country's biggest tech companies and trying to persuade top executives to install safeguards to help chronically addicted users.

— william wan, Houston Chronicle, "Rebel developers are trying to cure our smartphone addiction - with an app," 17 June 2018
In a lawsuit, the Life Legal Defense Foundation contends the law lacks safeguards to guarantee reliable determinations of sanity and terminal illness and can be exploited by greedy relatives.

— bob egelko, SFChronicle.com, "California’s assisted-dying law reinstated three weeks after it was blocked," 15 June 2018
Others expressed concerns about how the mental health apps safeguard users' private information.

— ken alltucker, alex connor and jayne o'donnell, USA TODAY, "Mobile therapy apps: With suicide rates on the rise, can text chats rescue those on the edge?," 15 June 2018
Companies are projected to spend $96 billion on digital safeguards in 2018, according to the market research firm Gartner.

— alyssa newcomb /, NBC News, "'White hat' hackers in India get paid to keep the internet safe," 6 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of safeguard

Middle English saufgarde, from Anglo-French, from sauf safe + garde guard

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

safeguard Synonyms

Synonyms

aegis (also egis), ammunition, armor, buckler, cover, defense, guard, protection, screen, security, shield, wall, ward;

Near Antonyms

aggression, assault, attack, offense (or offence), offensive;

fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, stronghold;

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

safeguard

verb

Definition of safeguard

safeguarded; safeguarding; safeguards

transitive verb

1 : to provide a safeguard for

2 : to make safe : protect

See safeguard defined for English-language learners

Examples of safeguard in a Sentence

laws that safeguard the rights of citizens
You need to safeguard your computer against viruses.
There are steps you can take to safeguard against identity theft.

Recent Examples of safeguard from the Web

They would be obliged to act reasonably toward users, safeguard their data, and avoid conflicts of interest that could exploit them.

— mason marks, STAT, "DNA donors must demand stronger protection for genetic privacy," 30 May 2018
That means custody banks such as Bank of New York Mellon and State Street that safeguard assets for the customers remain the only firms getting relief.

— Bloomberg.com, "Wall Street Denied in Latest Rewrite of Senate Banking Bill," 8 Mar. 2018
The policy described by Bloomberg would safeguard these plutocrats’ profits — by artificially inflating the size of consumers’ energy bills, and degrading the quality of their air.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Is Preparing to Prop Up Unprofitable Coal Plants With ‘Emergency’ Subsidies," 1 June 2018
As happens when free-speech protections are strengthened, views that run afoul of the local community end up safeguarded, too.

— mari uyehara, GQ, "How Free Speech Warriors Mainstreamed White Supremacists," 8 May 2018
As a founding member and the sole witness to the Temptations’ entire saga, Williams safeguards the band’s legacy.

— jordan runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "The Last Temptation of Motown: A Conversation with Soul Survivor Otis Williams," 4 May 2018
Transparency and disclosure can safeguard against many of the issues that concern me most regarding abuse of power and organizational culture.

— lelia gowland, Harper's BAZAAR, "Monica Lewinsky Is Rethinking Consent—We Should Too," 10 Apr. 2018
Rather, unions safeguard the interests of teachers—and by extension, students—from the bipartisan forces that have hollowed out public education in this country.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "How Liberals Learned to Love the Teachers," 4 Apr. 2018
Facebook detailed a few efforts to safeguard the election, although the social network still has a long way to go.

— wired staff, WIRED, "Security News This Week: Julian Assange Has Lost His Internet Privileges," 31 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of safeguard

1501

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

safeguard Synonyms

Phrases

stand up for;

Synonym Discussion of safeguard

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

- defend the country

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

- a hard hat to protect your head

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

- shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

- White House entrances are well guarded

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

- our civil liberties must be safeguarded

SAFEGUARD Defined for English Language Learners

safeguard

noun

Definition of safeguard for English Language Learners

: something that provides protection against possible loss, damage, etc.

safeguard

verb

Definition of safeguard for English Language Learners

: to make (someone or something) safe or secure

SAFEGUARD Defined for Kids

safeguard

noun safe·guard \ ˈsāf-ˌgärd \

Definition of safeguard for Students

: something that protects and gives safety

Drink water as a safeguard against dehydration.

safeguard

verb

Definition of safeguard for Students

safeguarded; safeguarding

: to make or keep safe or secure Refrigerating the food will safeguard it against spoilage.

Learn More about safeguard

See words that rhyme with safeguard Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for safeguard Spanish Central: Translation of safeguard Nglish: Translation of safeguard for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of safeguard for Arabic speakers

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safeguard

Definition of safeguard

Examples of safeguard in a Sentence

Recent Examples of safeguard from the Web

Origin and Etymology of safeguard

safeguard Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Military Terms

safeguard

Definition of safeguard

Examples of safeguard in a Sentence

Recent Examples of safeguard from the Web

First Known Use of safeguard

safeguard Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Synonym Discussion of safeguard

SAFEGUARD Defined for English Language Learners

safeguard

Definition of safeguard for English Language Learners

safeguard

Definition of safeguard for English Language Learners

SAFEGUARD Defined for Kids

safeguard

Definition of safeguard for Students

safeguard

Definition of safeguard for Students

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