safety

[seyf-tee]

noun

plural

safeties 

1. the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.

2. the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.

3. a contrivance or device to prevent injury or avert danger.

4. Also called lock, safety catch, safety lock. a locking or cutoff device that prevents a gun from being fired accidentally.

5. the action of keeping safe.

6. Football.

   1. an act or play in which a player on the offensive team is tackled in his own end zone or downs the ball there, or in which the ball goes out of bounds on a fumble, having last been in bounds in or over the end zone and having last been in the possession of an offensive player.

   2. an award of two points to the opposing team on this play.

   3. Also called safety man. a player on defense who lines up farthest behind the line of scrimmage.

7. Baseball.,  a base hit, especially a one-base hit.

8. Slang.,  a condom.

9. Obsolete.,  close confinement or custody.

safety

/ ˈseɪftɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being safe

2. freedom from danger or risk of injury

3. a contrivance or device designed to prevent injury

4. American football

   1. Also called: safetyman. either of two players who defend the area furthest back in the field

   2. a play in which the offensive team causes the ball to cross its own goal line and then grounds the ball behind that line, scoring two points for the opposing team Compare touchback

Other Word Forms

• self-safety noun
• supersafety noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of safety¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sauvete, from Middle French; equivalent to safe + -ty ²

Example Sentences

It touched down in places such as Vietnam and Alaska and ended with a helicopter ride to safety for Montgomery and a sober but ultimately uplifting lesson in wilderness survival rules for Troop 26.

From Los Angeles Times

The fixes to the Sepulveda Pass, “a route that experiences heavy, continuous traffic while serving crucial commuter and commercial needs,” will improve safety for drivers, Caltrans said.

From Los Angeles Times

With the safety net of a quarter-final place already assured, they will road-test against, on world ranking at least, their strongest opponents so far.

From BBC

We've worked relentlessly to bring an end to the building safety crisis and developed new measures to get peoples' homes fixed quicker and hold rogue freeholders to account.

From BBC

Several of the veterans described safety and security issues that need to be addressed for the housing that already exists.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• freedom 
• security