safety

The state of being protected from danger or harm.

• Your safety matters to us.
• The children reached safety before the fire spread.
• Workers must follow the new safety rules.

How to use it: for someone's safety (Wear a helmet for your safety.)

Similar words: security

Opposites: danger

Common phrases: road safety, for someone's safety, reach safety

A device that prevents a machine or weapon from starting or firing by accident.

• Check that the safety is on.
• The safety prevents the machine from starting accidentally.
• He checked the gun's safety before putting it away.

Similar words: safety catch, safety lock

Common phrases: engage the safety, release the safety, safety on something, check the safety

An American football player who defends from a position far behind the other defenders.

• Their safety caught the pass.
• He played safety for his college team.
• Both safeties moved back before the play began.

Common phrases: free safety, strong safety, play safety

An American football play worth two points, usually when an opponent is tackled in their own end zone.

• The defense scored a safety.
• A safety gave the other team two points.
• The quarterback was tackled in his own end zone for a safety.

Common phrases: score a safety, concede a safety, two-point safety