fail-safe

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfāl-ˌsāf 

1

: incorporating some feature for automatically counteracting the effect of an anticipated possible source of failure

2

: being or relating to a safeguard that prevents continuing on a bombing mission according to a preconceived plan

3

: having no chance of failure : infallibly problem-free

the little black dress … has consistently been the fail-safe solution for night

—Vogue

fail-safe

2 of 2

noun

: a device or measure that makes something fail-safe

Synonyms

Adjective

• can't-miss
• certain
• infallible
• sure
• surefire
• unfailing

Noun

• caution
• palladium
• precaution
• preventive
• safeguard

Examples of fail-safe in a Sentence

Adjective

flowers have been traditionally regarded as the fail-safe gift for Valentine's Day

Noun

there are so many fail-safes built into the system that a highly unlikely series of mistakes would have to be made before failure could occur

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Click through our links down below to find a whole lot of giftable deals on fail-safe winter fashion that are available only through the weekend. —Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

But shutting off the local media is hardly a fail-safe way to ward off scrutiny or protect one’s reputation. —Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 22 Nov. 2024

Noun

The idea was to make bank oversight both stricter and more fail-safe. —Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023

Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe. —Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1975, in the meaning defined above