safety valve

noun

plural safety valves

1

: a valve (as for a steam boiler) that allows gas or liquid under excessive pressure to escape in a controlled manner

2

: an outlet for pent-up energy or emotion

3

: something that relieves the pressure of overcrowding

Examples of safety valve in a Sentence

His hobbies act as a safety valve, relieving some of the pressure he feels from his job.

Recent Examples on the Web

Propane gas expands in warm temperatures, which can cause the safety valve to release gas to reduce excess pressure in the tank. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025

Congress actually built into the budget a multi-year safety valve for exactly this situation. —Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

For these reasons, clemency offers a critical safety valve when used responsibly. —Khalil Cumberbatch, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

It’s made second-year life tougher on Bo Nix, with few options consistently open over the middle of the field or as safety valves in the Chargers loss. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for safety valve

• bivalve

Kids Definition

safety valve

noun

1

: a valve that opens automatically (as when steam pressure becomes too great)

2

: outlet sense 2