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.
Secure a $150 bonus offer or a $1,500 first bet safety net depending on your location. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 Also known as citizenship through investment, golden visas have skyrocketed in popularity among Americans seeking to acquire a second passport, either as a safety net or to relocate. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 The shutdown is threatening access to SNAP, one of the country’s largest social safety nets for people with low incomes. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025 Sanctions have crippled the government’s primary source of revenue, oil exports, limiting the state’s ability to provide for millions of impoverished Iranians through social safety nets. Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 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 26 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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