plural safeties
1
: the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss
2
: a device (as on a weapon or a machine) designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous operation
3
a(1)
: a situation in football in which a member of the offensive team is tackled behind its own goal line that counts two points for the defensive team compare touchback
(2)
: a member of a defensive backfield in football who occupies the deepest position in order to receive a kick, defend against a forward pass, or stop a ballcarrier
b
: a billiard shot made with no attempt to score or so as to leave the balls in an unfavorable position for the opponent
c
: base hit
safetied; safetying
: to protect against failure, breakage, or accident
safety a rifle
Examples of safety in a Sentence
Noun
The changes were made in the interest of public safety.
He made some suggestions about how to improve airline safety.
I'm worried about the safety of the people who were left behind.
We were reluctant to leave the relative safety of our hotel.
She was only a mile from the safety of her home when the accident occurred.
The car has been redesigned for improved safety.
The toys are inspected for safety.
They were led to safety by the rescuers.
The injured hiker was finally able to reach safety.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
Another example cited by the health care system was that after setting a goal for its seven hospitals to achieve an A rating in safety from the Leapfrog Group, within five years each of the hospitals earned an A grade.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Over 300 sheep caused a traffic jam after escaping from their pens in Santa Barbara, California.
California Highway Patrol helped round up the animals and return them to safety
The loose sheep follow other viral animal escapes, including a zebra in Tennessee and a dog in Miami.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for safety
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Noun
Increasing crosswalk visibility and accessibility Improving pedestrian safety with enhanced visibility and accessibility measures for crosswalks.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
Another example cited by the health care system was that after setting a goal for its seven hospitals to achieve an A rating in safety from the Leapfrog Group, within five years each of the hospitals earned an A grade.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
Verb
Share Texas family reunites with their 'angel' who helped bring them to safety
Tom Llamas
A Texas family reunited today with their hero who woke them up during the flash floods and guiding them to safety before their house washed off its foundation.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Over 300 sheep caused a traffic jam after escaping from their pens in Santa Barbara, California.
California Highway Patrol helped round up the animals and return them to safety
The loose sheep follow other viral animal escapes, including a zebra in Tennessee and a dog in Miami.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for safety
Cite this Entry
“Safety.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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