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safe
[ seyf ]
adjective
- secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk:
a safe place.
Synonyms: guarded, invulnerable
- free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk:
to arrive safe and sound.
- involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc.:
a safe estimate.
- dependable or trustworthy:
a safe guide.
- careful to avoid danger or controversy:
a safe player; a safe play.
- denied the chance to do harm; in secure custody:
a criminal safe in jail.
- Baseball.
- reaching base without being put out:
safe on the throw to first base.
- making it possible to reach a base:
a safe slide.
adverb
- Informal. in a safe manner; safely: adverb
Learn how to drive safe.
noun
- a steel or iron box or repository for money, jewels, papers, etc.
Synonyms: safe-deposit box, chest, coffer, strongbox
- any receptacle or structure for the storage or preservation of articles:
a meat safe.
- (in plumbing)
- a pan for catching leakage.
- Slang. a condom.
safe
/ seɪf /
adjective
- affording security or protection from harm
a safe place
- postpositive free from danger
you'll be safe here
- secure from risk; certain; sound
a safe investment
a safe bet
- worthy of trust; prudent
a safe companion
- tending to avoid controversy or risk
a safe player
- unable to do harm; not dangerous
a criminal safe behind bars
water safe to drink
- informal.excellent
- on the safe sideon the safe side as a precaution
adverb
- in a safe condition
the children are safe in bed now
- play safeplay safe to act in a way least likely to cause danger, controversy, or defeat
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Derived Forms
- ˈsafely, adverb
- ˈsafeness, noun
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Other Words From
- safe·ly adverb
- safe·ness noun
- qua·si-safe adjective
- su·per·safe adjective
- su·per·safe·ness noun
- ul·tra·safe adjective
- un·safe adjective
- un·safe·ness noun
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of safe1
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Idioms and Phrases
- play it safe, play ( def 85 ).
More idioms and phrases containing safe
- better safe than sorry
- on the safe side
- play it safe
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Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
You only need live attenuated viruses when you don’t have a safer one.
Stephan would like the public to think that injunctions are keeping our communities safe from the most violent gang-members.
The Mission Valley aquifer doesn’t produce a ton of water, but what is there is safe from potential earthquakes and sea water seeping in as a result of climate change.
It begins when even places like California’s suburbs are no longer safe.
This approach may take longer but will be much more safer and effective long-term.
And it must make sure that the platform of debate where we can freely exchange ideas is safe and sound.
They called for peace, reconciliation, and the safe return of Father Gregorio.
Their leader, Njie, still going by “Dave” during the operation, would stay a safe distance away until the State House was secure.
“We wish each and every one of you a happy and safe new year,” Giorgio said at the very end.
There was Carol White, a ho-hum homemaker who finds herself besieged by multiple chemical sensitivity in Safe.
A desultory conversation on politics, in which neither took the slightest interest, was a safe neutral ground.
The governor of the fortress was provided with a safe residence in Egypt, and an annual pension of 75,000 piasters.
Could this be the safe old house in which childish days had passed, in which all around were always friendly and familiar faces?
The truth is, it is not safe to trot down such mountains and hardly to ride down them at all.
What reliance could repose upon a house, divided against itself—not safe from the extravagance and pillage of its own members?
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More About Safe
What is a basic definition of safe?
Safe describes something that is secure from harm or danger. Safe can also refer to something that is free from danger and is not risky. Safe is a secure object that is used to keep valuables in. Safe has several other senses as an adjective, noun, and adverb.
Safe means that something or someone is secured. If you’re safe, you don’t have to worry about getting hurt or being at risk. The word safety means something is intended to help avoid risk or the state of not being at risk.
Real-life examples: Babies are usually kept in cribs or limited to certain parts of a house so that they will be kept safe and won’t wander into danger. Eggs are kept in special containers designed to keep them safe from cracking. Athletes often wear equipment such as helmets that keep their sensitive body parts safe (or safer) from injury.
Used in a sentence: The scared child felt safe with their father and mother.
Safe also means something or someone avoided danger or managed to come through an event unhurt. This sense is often used in the phrase safe and sound.
Real-life examples: Firefighters, police, and paramedics won’t relax or leave a scene until they know everyone is safe. Family members of people stuck in a dangerous situation hope they will be safe.
Used in a sentence: Somehow, Ebony made it out safe and sound after falling into the lion exhibit.
Safe can also mean that something is not risky or is unlikely to be wrong.
Real-life examples: In gambling, safe bets usually have low prizes. Companies that are already very successful and financially secure are usually considered safe investments. It is a safe guess to say it will rain if you already see thunderclouds and lightning.
Used in a sentence: We took the safe way home by walking together on brightly lit streets.
A safe is a secure box or similar object that is designed to protect valuables from being stolen or damaged.
Real-life examples: Banks and stores often keep cash locked in a safe. You might keep your cherished things in a small safe that has a lock and key.
Used in a sentence: Jadyn keeps his gold coins in an iron safe hidden behind a painting on the wall.
Where does safe come from?
The first records of safe come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Latin salvus, meaning “intact” or “whole.”
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What are some other forms related to safe?
- safely (adverb)
- safeness (noun)
- quasi-safe (adjective)
- quasi-safely (adverb)
What are some synonyms for safe?
What are some words that share a root or word element with safe?
What are some words that often get used in discussing safe?
How is safe used in real life?
Safe is a common word that is often used to refer to not being in danger or at risk.
Sad that I won’t be able to see my family for Thanksgiving but it is worth taking the extra precautions to make sure they are safe.
— Joaquín Beltrán 🐇 (@joaquinlife) November 25, 2020
We have located Don and he is safe and sound.
— Bloomington Police (@BPD_MN) November 26, 2020
It's a safe bet that when someone says to you, "With all due respect…" something disrespectful is comin' up next.
— David Carroll (@DAVIDCARROLL3) May 8, 2020
Try using safe!
Is safe used correctly in the following sentence?
He didn’t want to risk taking the safe path with many dangerous twists and turns next to steep cliffs.
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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.
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