safety
Americannoun
plural
safeties-
the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss.
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the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss.
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a contrivance or device to prevent injury or avert danger.
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Also called lock, safety catch, safety lock. a locking or cutoff device that prevents a gun from being fired accidentally.
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the action of keeping safe.
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Football.
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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.
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an award of two points to the opposing team on this play.
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Also called safety man. a player on defense who lines up farthest behind the line of scrimmage.
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Baseball. a base hit, especially a one-base hit.
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Slang. a condom.
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Obsolete. close confinement or custody.
noun
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the quality of being safe
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freedom from danger or risk of injury
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a contrivance or device designed to prevent injury
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American football
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Also called: safetyman. either of two players who defend the area furthest back in the field
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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
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Other Word Forms
- self-safety noun
- supersafety noun
Etymology
Origin of safety
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sauvete, from Middle French; equivalent to safe + -ty 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Grok Talk: Officials at multiple federal agencies have expressed concerns about the safety and reliability of Elon Musk’s xAI tools in recent months, according to people familiar with the matter.
Last season, the Rams thought their young and talented pass rush could compensate for their decision not to stand pat with the cornerbacks and safeties from the 2024 season.
From Los Angeles Times
“Vegetation management in flood control channels is conducted to maintain flood protection capacity and protect public safety,” Dave Ahern, a spokesperson for the agency, said in an email.
From Los Angeles Times
This loss, described by manager Parker as "heartbreaking", leaves Burnley eight points from safety.
From BBC
When people climb with a paid guide, it's clear who should be in charge of the group's safety.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
