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safety net

noun

: something that provides security against misfortune or difficulty

Examples of safety net in a Sentence

The program provides a safety net for people who have lost their jobs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Activate a $150 bonus offer or a $1,500 first bet safety net with a bet on any of these games. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025 Infectious disease experts say vaccinating every baby provides a critical safety net to catch those at risk when maternal screening misses. Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025 It is driven by historic federal cuts to the safety net that have threatened access to food, housing and health care for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. Mark Stuart, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025 Texas legislators funded initiatives targeted at workforce development in rural areas – particularly for obstetrician-gynecologists, emergency physicians and nurses, women’s preventive safety net programs, and maternal safety and quality improvement initiatives. Kobi V. Ajayi, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for safety net

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of safety net was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Safety net.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety%20net. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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