safety

safety — noun

1. a state where you are free from danger, harm, or risk of injury; also any place

1.nounA2
Definition

a state where you are free from danger, harm, or risk of injury; also any place that offers shelter from threats

Example

Felix checked the fire exits when he arrived at the hotel for his own safety.

collocation: for [someone's] safety

The children ran to safety when the thunderstorm suddenly grew worse.

collocation: run to safety

Common collocations
  • personal safety
  • public safety
  • road safety
  • food safety
  • safety net
  • safety regulations
  • safety measures
  • safety standards
  • safety equipment
Synonyms
  • security

    emphasises protection against deliberate threats (crime, attack) rather than accidents

  • protection

    more general; can refer to physical barriers or legal safeguards

  • well-being

    broader term covering health and happiness, not just danger avoidance

Antonyms
  • danger

    the condition of being exposed to harm or risk

  • risk

    the possibility of harm, not the condition itself

Grammar Patterns

uncountable: safety of [someone/something]

for safety

in safety

Usage Note

Frequently used in compound nouns such as safety belt, safety net, safety regulations. Often appears in warnings and official notices.

2. a two-point scoring play in American football, awarded to a team when they tackl

2.nounC1
Definition

a two-point scoring play in American football, awarded to a team when they tackle the ball carrier behind the opponent's own goal line

Example

The defensive line broke through and tackled the quarterback for a safety.

collocation: [tackle someone] for a safety

A safety can completely change the momentum of a close football game.

Common collocations
  • score a safety
  • force a safety
  • safety by tackle
  • two-point safety

Grammar Patterns

score a safety

a safety is called

Usage Note

Distinguish from noun 3 (the player position). A safety as a score occurs when the offensive player is tackled behind their own goal line. The ball is then turned over to the team that scored.

3. a deep-lying defensive back in American football whose job is to stop long passe

3.nounC1
Definition

a deep-lying defensive back in American football whose job is to stop long passes and prevent runners from breaking through the team's last line of defence

Example

Daichi plays safety for his college team and made three interceptions last season.

collocation: plays safety

The safety read the quarterback's eyes and sprinted to break up the pass.

Common collocations
  • free safety
  • strong safety
  • play safety
  • defensive back
  • deep safety

Grammar Patterns

play safety

[player] is a safety

Usage Note

There are two sub-positions within safety: free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS). The free safety plays deeper and covers passes; the strong safety plays closer to the line and helps stop runs. Both are distinct from cornerbacks.

Common Mistakes

The safety scored a safety.
The safety forced a safety.
The player (safety, sense 3) can force the scoring event (safety, sense 2), but saying 'the safety scored a safety' is confusing; use 'force' or 'cause' instead.

4. a built-in mechanism fitted to guns or machinery that stops them from working by

4.nounB2
Definition

a built-in mechanism fitted to guns or machinery that stops them from working by mistake, reducing the chance of injury

Example

Adaeze engaged the safety on her rifle before climbing over the wooden fence.

collocation: engage the safety

The table saw has a safety that stops the blade within two seconds.

Common collocations
  • engage the safety
  • disengage the safety
  • safety catch
  • safety lock
  • safety switch
  • trigger safety
  • gun safety
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

[gun/machine] has a safety

engage the safety

disengage the safety

Usage Note

Commonly called the safety catch on guns and the safety lock or safety switch on power tools and machinery.

Common Mistakes

I turned off the safety of the gun.
I disengaged the safety on the gun.
'Off' is understood but 'disengage' or 'release' are the standard terms for a safety mechanism.
Idioms

safety first

idiom

used to say that avoiding danger and preventing accidents is the most important thing to consider when doing an activity

The construction crew follows a safety-first policy: every worker wears a helmet and boots on site.

Remember, safety first — always read the instructions before using a new appliance.

safety in numbers

idiom

the idea that being part of a group makes you less likely to be harmed or targeted than being alone

The hikers decided to stay together on the trail, believing there was safety in numbers.

Walking home alone late at night can be risky, so students are told there is safety in numbers.

there’s safety in numbers

idiom

Being part of a group makes you feel safer and more confident.

Maya walked home with her friends because there's safety in numbers.

Do you think there's safety in numbers when hiking in bear country?

safety — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Safety and security are the closest pair but differ in emphasis: safety focuses on the condition of being free from accidents or physical harm (e.g., road safety, food safety), while security emphasises protection against deliberate threats such as crime, theft, or attack (e.g., national security, home security). Protection is broader and can refer to any barrier or safeguard—physical, legal, or social—that prevents harm. Well-being is the widest term, covering physical health, mental health, and happiness beyond just the absence of danger. Example: 'The company improved worker safety by installing machine guards (safety). It also hired guards for building security (security). Sunscreen provides protection against UV rays (protection). The employer cared about employee well-being by offering gym memberships and counselling (well-being).'

safety ↗security ↗protection ↗well-being ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • safety regulations
  • safety measures
  • safety standards
  • safety equipment
  • safety concerns
  • safety issue
  • safety record
  • safety hazard
  • safety feature

Adverbs

  • reasonably safely
  • perfectly safe

Phrases

Prepositions

  • for safety
  • in safety
  • with safety
  • out of safety

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Safety comes from Old French sauveté, meaning 'safety, security', which traces back to Latin salvitas 'safety, security, well-being' from salvus 'safe, healthy, unharmed'. Salvus is also the root of save, salvation, and salute. The word entered English in the 1300s, originally meaning 'the condition of being safe or unhurt'. Its use for a mechanical device (sense 4) appeared in the 1800s, and the American football senses (2 and 3) developed in the early 1900s.