safe

1 of 2

adjective

ˈsāf 

safer; safest

1

: free from harm or risk : unhurt

2

a

: secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss

b

: successful at getting to a base in baseball without being put out

3

: affording safety or security from danger, risk, or difficulty

4

obsolete, of mental or moral faculties : healthy, sound

5

a

: not threatening danger : harmless

b

: unlikely to produce controversy or contradiction

6

a

: not likely to take risks : cautious

b

: trustworthy, reliable

safe adverb

or safely

safeness noun

safe

2 of 2

noun

1

: a place or receptacle to keep articles (such as valuables) safe

2

: condom sense 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• all right
• alright
• secure

Noun

• coffer
• safe-deposit box
• strongbox

Examples of safe in a Sentence

Adjective

I don't feel safe in this neighborhood.

The kids were safe in the cabin.

We need to make sure that the children are safe and sound.

“Is the money safe?” “Yes, it's in the bank.”

a world made safe from war

Is it safe to walk here?

He wished us a safe trip.

I found a safe place to take shelter from the storm.

They live in a perfectly safe neighborhood.

We watched the fireworks from a safe distance.

Noun

the hotel recommended that we keep all our valuables in its safe during our stay

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Results of a poll released in August 2022 showed only 41% of voters feel safe at polling places, including just 28% of Black people and 37% of Latinos. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, a free press keeps people informed; the rule of law fuels innovation, by curbing corruption and protecting intellectual property; and independent agencies check power and implement regulations to promote clean water, breathable air, and safe food. —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024

Noun

The work comes on the back of various examples of hotel door locks being found to be hackable, vulnerabilities in high-security locks, and commercial safes being alleged to have backdoors. —Matt Burgess, WIRED, 14 Aug. 2024

Once inside the club, the burglars crawled to the safes, according to the release. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sauf, from Anglo-French salf, sauf, from Latin salvus safe, healthy; akin to Latin solidus solid, Greek holos whole, safe, Sanskrit sarva entire

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing safe

• a good/safe/sure bet
• fail-safe
• good/safe/sure bet
• in good/safe hands
• (it's) better (to be) safe than sorry
• night safe
• pie safe
• play it safe
• safe-conduct
• safe-deposit box
• safe house
• safe pair of hands
• safe return
• safe seat
• safe/secure in the knowledge
• safe sex
• safe space
• safe third country agreement
• secret is safe with (someone)

Kids Definition

safe

1 of 2 adjective

ˈsāf 

safer; safest

1

: freed or secure from danger, harm, or loss

2

: successful at getting to a base in baseball without being put out

the runner was safe

3

: providing safety

4

: not threatening danger

safe medicine

5

a

: cautious

a safe driver

b

: trustworthy

safely adverb

safeness noun

safe

2 of 2 noun

: a container to keep articles (as valuables) safe

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sauf "safe, unhurt," from early French sauf (same meaning), from Latin salvus "safe, healthy" — related to sage entry 3, save

Medical Definition

safe

adjective

ˈsāf 

safer; safest

: not causing harm or injury

especially : having a low incidence of adverse reactions and significant side effects when adequate instructions for use are given and having a low potential for harm under conditions of widespread availability

a list of drugs generally regarded as safe

safe use in pregnancy has not been established

—Emergency Medicine

safety

ˈsāf-tē 

noun

plural safeties