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
Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Firework safety for the holiday Fireworks can be fun, as long as proper safety measures are taken.
—Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025
Outside Online, 21 May 2025
By contrast, China portrayed itself as a free-trade haven with which other countries can safety invest and partner.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for safety
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety shows that teams thrive when members feel safe to take interpersonal risks.
—Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Firework safety for the holiday Fireworks can be fun, as long as proper safety measures are taken.
—Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025
Verb
No, because my dad grabbed the back of my shorts and yanked me to safety with the giant tug of a rescue wedgie.
—Outside Online, 21 May 2025
By contrast, China portrayed itself as a free-trade haven with which other countries can safety invest and partner.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 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 19 Jul. 2025.
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