safety valve
noun
plural safety valves
1
: a valve (as for a steam boiler) that allows gas or liquid under excessive pressure to escape in a controlled manner
2
: an outlet for pent-up energy or emotion
3
: something that relieves the pressure of overcrowding
Examples of safety valve in a Sentence
His hobbies act as a safety valve, relieving some of the pressure he feels from his job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cash is a kind of safety valve in investor portfolios, perhaps serving as an emergency fund or a reserve for near-term income needs in retirement.
—
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024
Sable began work installing safety valves and making repairs.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
Last November, Sable sued Santa Barbara County for denying its permits to install automatic safety valves, a critical requirement for operations to begin.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
The plant will be outfitted with emergency shutdown systems and safety valves in the case of an emergency, per Stacie.
—Yessenia Funes, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for safety valve 
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Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024
Sable began work installing safety valves and making repairs.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
Last November, Sable sued Santa Barbara County for denying its permits to install automatic safety valves, a critical requirement for operations to begin.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
The plant will be outfitted with emergency shutdown systems and safety valves in the case of an emergency, per Stacie.
—Yessenia Funes, Vox, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for safety valve
Dictionary Entries Near safety valve
Cite this Entry
“Safety valve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safety%20valve. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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