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.
Its long-term impact on jobs and the lives of everyday workers is terrifying, especially in times when our government is taking away safety nets for the most vulnerable here and abroad. Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Both the $150 bonus offer and the $1,500 first bet safety net can be used to bet on tonight's game. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Cash on the sidelines can be the safety net for the wild circus on Wall Street. Susan Tompor, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 These scaffolds are erected on skyscrapers, hundreds of feet high, and encased in fabric safety nets forming colorful cocoons of green, blue and purple. Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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