Definition of SAFETY

safety

Plural: safeties

Noun

  • the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
    • "insure the safety of the children"
    • "the reciprocal of safety is risk"
  • a safe place
    • "He ran to safety"
  • a device designed to prevent injury or accidents
  • (baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely
  • contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse
  • a score in American football; a player is tackled behind his own goal line
  • The condition or feeling of being safe; security; certainty.
  • A safety lock or safety catch: a mechanism on a weapon or dangerous equipment designed to prevent accidental firing or operation.
  • Preservation from escape; close custody.
  • An instance of a player being sacked or tackled in the end zone, or stepping out of the end zone and off the field, resulting in two points to the opposite team.
  • Any of the defensive players who are in position furthest from the line of scrimmage and whose responsibility is to defend against passes as well as to be the tacklers of last resort.
  • A safety squeeze.
  • A safety shot or sequence of such shots.
  • A safety bicycle.

Verb

Verb Forms: safetied, safeties, safetying

  • To protect against failure, breakage, or accident.
  • To secure (a mechanical component, as in aviation) to keep it from becoming detached even under vibration.
  • to secure a firing pin, as in guns, to keep the gun from firing

Examples

  • After thirty minutes of safety, Selby finally potted a red, to ironic cheers.
  • Be sure that the safety is set before proceeding.
  • He managed to reach the border and escape to safety.
  • He sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety.
  • He tried to safety his lead by playing defensively, blocking all potential bingos.
  • If you push it to the limit, safety is not guaranteed.
  • That was a poor safety from Higgins.
  • The free safety made a game-saving tackle on the runner who had broken past the linebackers.

Origin / Etymology

Inherited from Middle English savete, from Old French sauveté, from earlier salvetet, from Medieval Latin salvitās, salvitātem, from Latin salvus.

Synonyms

base hit, condom, guard, prophylactic, refuge, rubber, safe, safety device

Antonyms

danger

Scrabble Score: 12

safety: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
safety: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
safety: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

safety: valid Words With Friends Word