First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1safety
noun safe·ty \ˈsāf-tē\
: freedom from harm or danger : the state of being safe
: the state of not being dangerous or harmful
: a place that is free from harm or danger : a safe place
plural safeties
Full Definition of SAFETY
1
: the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss
2
: a device (as on a weapon or a machine) designed to prevent inadvertent or hazardous operation
3
a (1) : a situation in football in which a member of the offensive team is tackled behind its own goal line that counts two points for the defensive team — compare touchback (2) : a member of a defensive backfield in football who occupies the deepest position in order to receive a kick, defend against a forward pass, or stop a ballcarrier b : a billiard shot made with no attempt to score or so as to leave the balls in an unfavorable position for the opponent c : base hit
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Origin of SAFETY
Middle English saufte, from Anglo-French salveté, saufté, from salf safe
Related to SAFETY
- Synonyms
- protection, safeness, security
- Antonyms
- danger, distress, endangerment, imperilment, jeopardy, peril, trouble
2safety
transitive verb
safe·tiedsafe·ty·ing
Definition of SAFETY
: to protect against failure, breakage, or accident <safety a rifle>
First Known Use of SAFETY
1927
SAFETY[1] Defined for Kids
safety
noun safe·ty \ˈsāf-tē\
Definition of SAFETY for Kids
: freedom from danger or harm : the state of being safe
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