safeguard

noun

safe·guard | \ ˈsāf-ˌgärd

Definition of safeguard

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : pass, safe-conduct

b : convoy, escort

2a : a precautionary measure, stipulation, or device

b : a technical contrivance to prevent accident

safeguard

verb

safeguarded; safeguarding; safeguards

Definition of safeguard (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to provide a safeguard for

2 : to make safe : protect

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about safeguard

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Choose the Right Synonym for safeguard

Verb

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

Examples of safeguard in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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 on the Web: Noun

Whistle-blowing is necessary when these safeguards fail. — Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, "Edward Snowden and the Rise of Whistle-Blower Culture," 16 Sep. 2019 The Trump administration continues to roll back key safeguards for the LGBTQ community. — Sophie Lewis, CBS News, "Black transgender woman Bee Love Slater found burned to death in Florida," 14 Sep. 2019 The extremely weird saga of Yujing Zhang continued this week, as the Chinese businesswoman who slipped past various safeguards at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property this spring had her day in court. — Wired, "Security News This Week: 'Simjacker' Attack Can Track Phones Just by Sending a Text," 14 Sep. 2019 Approved April 2, the state plan reaches even farther across the landscape than the 2015 federal rule, securing safeguards for additional waterways, including such bodies as playas, defined as wetlands that don’t necessarily have vegetation. — Kurtis Alexander, SFChronicle.com, "California protects itself from Trump’s rollback of Clean Water Act," 12 Sep. 2019 Superintendent David Sewell told the Dothan Eagle there was no ransom demand, and the district’s cybersecurity safeguards kept the attack from spreading. — al, "Alabama superintendents warned cyberattacks on the rise," 28 Aug. 2019 Burke also should insert real medical safeguards for donors. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Paying women to donate their eggs for research is still a terrible idea," 23 Aug. 2019 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg introduced an economic policy proposal Friday that aims to expand employee protections and rights, including safeguards for gig-economy workers as part of a bid to double union membership nationwide. — Alexandria Burris, Indianapolis Star, "Pete Buttigieg would let gig-economy workers unionize, set $15 minimum wage," 26 July 2019 But backup safeguards were less effective for Kaufman’s police department, which uses a different type of software than other city offices, Slye said. — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, "The New Target That Enables Ransomware Hackers to Paralyze Dozens of Towns and Businesses at Once," 12 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The identification of risk areas dictates what prevention efforts the companies should undertake to safeguard their property from fire. — Julie Cart, The Mercury News, "What to know as California’s peak fire months loom," 30 Aug. 2019 Seeing these problems reminded me that boards of directors often fail to act in time to protect brands, prevent harm to the public and safeguard investors. — Siri Terjesen, The Conversation, "Corporate boards are supposed to oversee companies but often turn a blind eye," 24 June 2019 The ions' electric charge means they can be contained in an electromagnetic trap that safeguard them, NASA said. — Scottie Andrew, CNN, "NASA launched a Deep Space Atomic Clock that's like a GPS for space," 28 Aug. 2019 To safeguard them, Mexico’s immigration agency is offering to take migrants three hours by bus to the city of Monterrey, which is considered to be safer than Nuevo Laredo. — Kevin Sieff, Washington Post, "When they filed their asylum claim, they were told to wait in Mexico. There, they say, they were kidnapped.," 10 Aug. 2019 This policy safeguarded elites from interracial revolution, especially after Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676, when disenfranchised whites and blacks took up arms together. — Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey, Twin Cities, "Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey: Why now is the moment to atone for 400 years of racism," 28 July 2019 The policy, which attempts to balance safeguarding the sport with player privacy interests, also extensively details how testing is conducted. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "Examining Wilson Chandler's Suspension for PEDs and Infrequency of Steroids in the NBA," 29 Aug. 2019 The allegations against Yaselli serve as a reminder that people need to hire a reputable agent and talk to her about safeguarding their possessions. — Martha Ross, The Mercury News, "Usher and Adam Lambert learn the hard way: Thieves love open houses," 23 Aug. 2019 The contrast between Bolsonaro's claims and what the science says has researchers worried over how to safeguard one of the world's most important resources. — Anchorage Daily News, "The Amazon is burning. Brazil’s president accused critics of setting fires to make him look bad.," 22 Aug. 2019

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.