unsafer; unsafest
: not safe: such as
a
: able or likely to cause harm, damage, or loss
water that is unsafe to drink
unsafe driving habits
unsafe levels of lead
b
: not giving protection from danger, harm, or loss
an unsafe vehicle
unsafe working conditions
c
: not protected from danger, harm, or loss
feeling frightened and unsafe
d
: likely to take risks : not careful
unsafe drivers

Examples of unsafe in a Sentence

workers are forbidden from engaging in unsafe activities on company time people who have a record of being unsafe drivers usually have to pay higher insurance premiums
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Psychologically safe teams exceeded targets by 17%, while unsafe teams underperformed. Anna Barnhill, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 Others could turn to a potentially unsafe method of mixing vials themselves. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024 Some are working from home, some are trying to work in a building that's unsafe right now to be honest with you, were trying to get them out of there quickly. Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 Environmentalists claimed the homes would be unsafe in the fire-prone mountains. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unsafe 

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsafe was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near unsafe

Cite this Entry

“Unsafe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsafe. Accessed 1 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unsafe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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