safekeeping

noun

safe·​keep·​ing ˈsāf-ˈkē-piŋ 

1

: the act or process of preserving in safety

2

: the state of being preserved in safety

Synonyms

• care
• custodianship
• custody
• guardianship
• keeping
• trust
• ward

Examples of safekeeping in a Sentence

His will is in safekeeping with his lawyer.

while she was away on business, the single mom entrusted her daughter into her in-laws' safekeeping

Recent Examples on the Web

After being evacuated out of London on a train with other children for safekeeping, George immediately runs away and perilously heads back home to his munitions worker mom, Rita (Saoirse Ronan), and musical grandfather Gerald Hanway (Paul Weller of The Jam). —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024

The only thing to do right now is get him into the basement for safekeeping. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024

SpaceX also test-fired the Falcon 9 rocket Tuesday evening, before lowering the rocket horizontal and moving it back into a hangar for safekeeping as the outer bands of Hurricane Helene moved through Central Florida. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 Sep. 2024

During this time, all the artifacts were put in boxes and placed underground for safekeeping, the source reports, with repair work commencing after the conclusion of the war. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing safekeeping

• for safekeeping

Kids Definition

safekeeping

noun

safe·​keep·​ing ˈsāf-ˈkē-piŋ 

: protection sense 1, custody