safe

1 of 2

adjective

ˈsāf

safer; safest

Synonyms of safe next

: free from harm or risk : unhurt

: secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss

: successful at getting to a base in baseball without being put out

: affording safety or security from danger, risk, or difficulty

obsolete, of mental or moral faculties : healthy, sound

: not threatening danger : harmless

: unlikely to produce controversy or contradiction

: not likely to take risks : cautious

: trustworthy, reliable

safe adverb

or safely

safeness noun

safe

2 of 2

noun

: a place or receptacle to keep articles (such as valuables) safe

: condom sense 1

Example Sentences

Adjective I don't feel safe in this neighborhood. The kids were safe in the cabin. We need to make sure that the children are safe and sound. “Is the money safe?” “Yes, it's in the bank.” a world made safe from war Is it safe to walk here? He wished us a safe trip. I found a safe place to take shelter from the storm. They live in a perfectly safe neighborhood. We watched the fireworks from a safe distance. Noun the hotel recommended that we keep all our valuables in its safe during our stay See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Keeping Postal Service workers safe The USPS trains its mail carriers not to startle dogs, to avoid petting or feeding them and to place something between themselves and the animal – like their mail satchel – if a dog does attack, the postal said in a news release. —

Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 4 June 2023 It’s also designed with a zip closure and opaque material to keep all of your belongings safe. —

Lauren Fischer, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2023 More than half of city revenue comes from sales, hotel and business taxes, supporting police, fire and landscaping that contributes to Beverly Hills’ safe and small-town atmosphere. —

John Gittelsohn, Fortune, 2 June 2023 Is Turmeric Safe? Generally, turmeric is safe if consumed orally or applied topically to the skin. —

Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 2 June 2023 But increasingly, research is showing that top surgery is safe. —

H Conley, STAT, 2 June 2023 Tetro says dish towels can be tossed in the laundry and washed in hot water, which will keep them safe. —

Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 1 June 2023 Just 26% of Detroiters said their community is safe compared with 71% of suburbanites. —

Detroit Free Press, 1 June 2023 Regardless of the speed, Kiser recommends maintaining a safe distance when using a leaf blower. —

Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2023

Noun

His lawyers said Teixeira’s guns were stored so safely that federal agents needed a drill to get into the safe. —

Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2023 Colleges and universities will be required to provide a secure location for storage of a pistol or revolver in at least one on-campus residence hall or to make safes available in residence rooms, which could come with a fee. —

CBS News, 1 Mar. 2023 Gun control advocates are hoping that the adoption of the boxes in cars will come to be seen as a solution that both sides of the gun debate can accept, much as both sides encourage the use of gun safes and trigger locks in the home. —

Richard Fausset, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Mar. 2023 By the time the fire was extinguished, the only surviving item was a large safe, which is still a prominent fixture in the company’s office. —

Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2023 The explanation is in a safe. —

Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2023 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends gun owners keep their firearms locked up and unloaded, with ammo locked in a separate safe. —

Chris Boyette, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023 He is then seen hiding the gun in a safe. —

Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2022 Each rental has a personal host, a personal safe to lock up items, a private shaded area, tables, seating and bottled water. —

Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 10 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'safe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sauf, from Anglo-French salf, sauf, from Latin salvus safe, healthy; akin to Latin solidus solid, Greek holos whole, safe, Sanskrit sarva entire

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of safe was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safe. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

safe

1 of 2 adjective

ˈsāf

safer; safest

: freed or secure from danger, harm, or loss

: successful at getting to a base in baseball without being put out

the runner was safe

: providing safety

: not threatening danger

safe medicine

: cautious

a safe driver

: trustworthy

safely adverb

safeness noun

safe

2 of 2 noun

: a container to keep articles (as valuables) safe

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sauf "safe, unhurt," from early French sauf (same meaning), from Latin salvus "safe, healthy" — related to sage entry 3, save

Medical Definition

safe

adjective

ˈsāf

safer; safest

: not causing harm or injury

especially : having a low incidence of adverse reactions and significant side effects when adequate instructions for use are given and having a low potential for harm under conditions of widespread availability

a list of drugs generally regarded as safe

safe use in pregnancy has not been established —

Emergency Medicine

safety

ˈsāf-tē

noun

plural safeties