as in precautions
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury
there are so many fail-safes built into the system that a highly unlikely series of mistakes would have to be made before failure could occur
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Recent Examples of fail-safes
Deeper studies of such events can help manufacturers implement fail-safes to protect solar panels in the future.
—
Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
The team also developed numerous fail-safes to ensure consistent, trustworthy performance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2016
Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
The team also developed numerous fail-safes to ensure consistent, trustworthy performance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safes
Noun
-
Point out red flags to look for, like asking for pictures or money, and the precautions to take when situations turn dangerous.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
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Even now, however, the family must take extraordinary precautions to protect him from illness.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Noun
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Patients showing symptoms are examined at the clinic before being referred to larger treatment centers, exposing doctors and nurses to potential infection with minimal safeguards.—
Mark Banchereau,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
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The federal government plays by different rules than private collectors, though, and certain obligations can reach your benefits regardless of the safeguards that block everyone else.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fail-safes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safes. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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