safety

noun

safe·ty | \ ˈsāf-tē

plural safeties

Definition of safety

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a(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

safety

verb

safetied; safetying

Definition of safety (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to protect against failure, breakage, or accident safety a rifle

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about safety

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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: Noun

Changes to the Facebook apps Zuckerberg said that Facebook is basing its evolution on several principles: private interactions, encryption, reducing permanence, safety, interoperability, and securing data storage. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Zuckerberg, Facebook commit to building 'privacy focused platform,' dodging ads and fake news," 6 Mar. 2019 The officer was not injured, however officer safety is of the utmost importance to Axon. — Fox News, "NYPD pulls 3,000 body cams off street after one exploded," 22 Oct. 2018 Some investors are now pressing for an independent safety system. — Rhiannon Hoyle, WSJ, "After Brazil Tragedy, Mining Firms Call for New Oversight of Waste Dams," 25 Feb. 2019 The Sunrise Pro Supreme has a pivoting safety handle and suction-cup base that holds steady during sharpening. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Knife Sharpener," 23 Feb. 2019 As of December, the agency had 36 investigations open into the effectiveness of recalls and possible safety defects. — Tom Krisher, The Seattle Times, "Driver hurt by air bag shrapnel as investigation drags on," 20 Feb. 2019 The service runs from a fully-equipped truck, offering food, condoms, blankets, safety alarms, and a safe place to talk. — Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why Duchess Meghan Shared Touching Messages with Vulnerable Women During Bristol Visit," 1 Feb. 2019 But for Daisy, a 17-year-old from Texas (whose last name has been omitted from this article for safety reasons), concentrating on finals has been difficult in the face of her father’s recent deportation. — Isabella Gomez, Teen Vogue, "Why Doesn't Criminal Justice Reform Doesn't Include Immigration Law?," 9 Jan. 2019 Tours start at $98 for 3.5 hours, and include safety training—and the pace can be as slow and feel as safe as driving a golf cart. — Kaitlin Menza, Town & Country, "The Best Things to Do, Eat, and See in Curaçao," 8 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Beset with injury problems, Moyes has overcome them, as well as the negativity surrounding his appointment, to guide the Hammers to safety with two games to spare. — SI.com, "Why Premier League Survival Should Herald a New Era of Optimism at West Ham Under David Moyes," 7 May 2018 Bills safety Micah Hyde thinks that one way to keep receivers safe should be to fine quarterbacks for helmet-to-helmet hits, according to ESPN. — Jenna West, SI.com, "Bills' Micah Hyde Says Quarterbacks Should Be Fined For Helmet-to-Helmet Hits," 17 Apr. 2018 Jalen Harvey moved from wide receiver to safety this spring. — Jeff Metcalfe, azcentral, "ASU football loses WR John Humphrey to Achilles injury," 22 Mar. 2018 Vaccaro can play either safety position and at 27 years old remains in the prime of his career. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "NFL free agency: Could Detroit Lions land Richard Sherman or Malcolm Butler?," 10 Mar. 2018 Bethel Search and Rescue member Tom Martini was one of the people who helped get the rest of the family to safety that night. — Anna Rose Macarthur, Anchorage Daily News, "Bethel rescuer gave his coat to the hypothermic aunt and his boots to the little boy," 12 Jan. 2018 And that could help safety officials prioritize ways to intervene. — Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, "D.C. crash-mapping gets boost from firm that can also help identify dangerous hotspots," 6 Oct. 2017 So could safety Derwin James — who missed last year’s game with an injury — on defense or special teams. — Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville football at Florida State: 3 keys and a prediction," 20 Oct. 2017 Is there a place that my boys could safety watch the construction trucks? — Kevin Spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Surviving I-4: Punctured tires, busted windshields —'Oh lord, please'," 16 Oct. 2017

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