safeguard

noun safe·guard \ ˈsāf-ˌgärd \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

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

The National Laboratory is the only academic lab in the country equipped to research the deadliest biological agents known because of the sophisticated safeguards in place.

— nick powell, Houston Chronicle, "Federal Ebola drill taking place at UTMB in Galveston on Thursday," 11 Apr. 2018
Cambridge Analytica was only able to harvest so much data because Facebook's policies at the time allowed developers to do so, and the company had no safeguards in place to ensure developers wouldn't share that data.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "The Question Only Mark Zuckerberg Can Answer Before Congress," 5 Apr. 2018
And some sectors also have greater safeguards as well.

— jean yang, Time, "Want to Keep Personal Information Safe Online? Fix the Software," 3 Apr. 2018
The risk is that new trade arrangements from further afield will bring new invasions, while existing safeguards could be at risk.

— Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Bulletin: Vote Leave Claims Reach the Commons," 27 Mar. 2018
The officials asked what safeguards Facebook had in place to ensure that outside developers handled user data correctly.

— john d. mckinnon, WSJ, "U.S., States Step Up Pressure on Facebook," 26 Mar. 2018
Some politicians may want to revive talk of such a law, especially as Europe strengthens its safeguards.

— The Economist, "The Facebook scandal could change politics as well as the internet," 22 Mar. 2018
The bill will include money for the FBI and for states to safeguard against Russian cyberattacks on election systems, but will not include safeguards against the president firing Robert Mueller.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Congress Has a Spending Bill That Solves Some Problems and Ignores Lots of Others," 21 Mar. 2018
On the other hand, the overall economy needs some safeguards against collapse in such a crisis.

— mark trumbull, The Christian Science Monitor, "Congress moves to ease bank rules: a needed update or a slippery slope?," 16 Mar. 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

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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

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

Others said the visceral reaction to safeguard Quebec against immigration, and conservative Islam in particular, was a reflection of the province’s history, its staunch feminism and its strong reflex against outward signs of religiosity.

— dan bilefsky, New York Times, "Don’t Burn Women: Warning to Immigrants Looms Over a Quebec Village," 12 Apr. 2018
The documentary highlights an ambitious environmental project, The Queen’s Canopy, to safeguard forests around the world via the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

— simon perry, PEOPLE.com, "Queen Elizabeth Makes Rare Joke as Loud Helicopter Interrupts Her: 'Sounds Like President Trump'," 10 Apr. 2018
On the latest Recode Decode, Jarrett says tech companies should work with the government to safeguard democracy.

— recode staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: The man behind the curtain at today’s daring Spotify IPO," 2 Apr. 2018
Fire monitors have been assigned to patrol the building to safeguard the situation in the interim.

— brian rogers, Houston Chronicle, "Harris County to add more interim courthouse space," 13 Feb. 2018
While physical access is required to exploit the vulnerability, Windows login credentials are designed specifically to safeguard against scenarios where a user loses control of their hardware.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "High-severity vulnerability in Lenovo laptops let hackers access passwords," 30 Jan. 2018
By modernising, Japan became the only big country in Asia to safeguard its independence.

— The Economist, "Why modern Japan’s founding moment still divides a nation," 11 Jan. 2018
And in turn, protecting the world’s remaining natural places is also a step toward safeguarding the climate.

— chelsea harvey, Scientific American, "Climate Change Is Becoming a Top Threat to Biodiversity," 28 Mar. 2018
Castro, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said Congress also missed an opportunity to safeguard Mueller’s job amid signals from the White House that Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the investigation.

— bill lambrecht, San Antonio Express-News, "House passes spending bill without Trump’s demand for more wall funding," 22 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

Learn More about safeguard

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