unsafe

adjective

un·​safe ˌən-ˈsāf 

unsafer; unsafest

: not safe: such as

a

: able or likely to cause harm, damage, or loss

water that is unsafe to drink

unsafe driving habits

unsafe levels of lead

b

: not giving protection from danger, harm, or loss

an unsafe vehicle

unsafe working conditions

c

: not protected from danger, harm, or loss

feeling frightened and unsafe

d

: likely to take risks : not careful

unsafe drivers

Synonyms of unsafe

• dangerous
• hazardous
• risky
• perilous

Examples of unsafe in a Sentence

workers are forbidden from engaging in unsafe activities on company time

people who have a record of being unsafe drivers usually have to pay higher insurance premiums

Recent Examples on the Web

Two pedestrians were killed early Sunday morning by a driver allegedly traveling at unsafe speeds while under the influence of alcohol in North Hollywood, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

Burnout, unsafe staffing ratios, mandatory overtime, and moral injury—these are the conditions that created the shortage in the first place. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026

Endicott already has been a stop for some ships previously and an alternative when conditions in Tracy Arm, such as excess ice, have been unsafe. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

Just a handful of vessels have crossed the strait in recent days, highlighting that many shipping companies still view transiting the waterway as unsafe, despite the current ceasefire. —Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsafe

• vouchsafe
• chafe
• safe
• waif