safe

[ seyf ]

/ seɪf /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR safe ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, saf·er, saf·est.

secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk: a safe place.

free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk: to arrive safe and sound.

involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc.: a safe estimate.

dependable or trustworthy: a safe guide.

careful to avoid danger or controversy: a safe player; a safe play.

denied the chance to do harm; in secure custody: a criminal safe in jail.

Baseball.

reaching base without being put out: safe on the throw to first base.
making it possible to reach a base: a safe slide.

adverb

Informal. in a safe manner; safely: Learn how to drive safe. See Grammar note at adverb.

noun

a steel or iron box or repository for money, jewels, papers, etc.

any receptacle or structure for the storage or preservation of articles: a meat safe.

(in plumbing)

a pan for catching leakage.
template(def 7).

Slang. a condom.

Idioms for safe

play it safe, play(def 85).

Origin of safe

1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English sauf, saf < Anglo-French saf, Old French sauf < Latin salvus intact, whole; (noun) late Middle English save, orig. derivative of save¹, assimilated to the adj.; cf. salvation

SYNONYMS FOR safe

1 protected, sound, guarded. Safe, secure may both imply that something can be regarded as free from danger. These words are frequently interchangeable. Safe, however, is applied rather to a person or thing that is out of or has passed beyond the reach of danger: The ship is safe in port. Secure is applied to that about which there is no need to fear or worry: to feel secure about the future; The foundation of the house does not seem very secure.

4 sure, reliable.

5 wary, careful.

9 strongbox, coffer, chest, safe-deposit box.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR safe ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM safe

safe·ly, adverb safe·ness, noun qua·si-safe, adjective qua·si-safe·ly, adverb

su·per·safe, adjective su·per·safe·ly, adverb su·per·safe·ness, noun ul·tra·safe, adjective un·safe, adjective un·safe·ly, adverb un·safe·ness, noun

Words nearby safe

safari jacket, safari park, safari shirt, safari suit, safavid, safe, safe and sound, safe area, safe as houses, safe harbor, safe house

Example sentences from the Web for unsafe

Ippoliti says that the centers should close because many are overcrowded and unsafe.

In Rome’s Riots, Cries for Mussolini and Attacks on Refugees |Barbie Latza Nadeau |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“After my experiences in 1984, I felt that it was unsafe for me to live as a Sikh in India,” said Singh.

As 30-Year Anniversary of Mass Killings in India Arrives, Sikhs Find Safety in USA |Simran Jeet Singh |October 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In grounding the 787, the FAA declared that the fires represented an “unsafe condition.”

NTSB Doesn’t Think the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Is Safe Enough to Fly |Clive Irving |May 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“I think these retailers need their asses handed to them,” Charney said of the companies who outsource to unsafe factories.

American Apparel Stirs Up Controversy…Again |Erin Cunningham |March 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

His lawyers argued that it would be unsafe for him to return home given his rejection of Islam.

Britain Grants Asylum to Afghan Atheist |Nico Hines |January 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The first lodging places before they are taken to the harbours, are dear, poor and often unsafe.

On the Trail of The Immigrant |Edward A. Steiner
Owing to the heavy surf which broke all round their shores, we found it unsafe to land.

Cruise of the 'Alert' |R. W. Coppinger
It has always seemed to me unsafe to base calculations respecting suns and planets on experiments conducted in the laboratory.

The Library Magazine of Select Foreign Literature |Various
There are painful reports from States lately in rebellion, showing that life is unsafe and society disorganized.

Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 18 (of 20) |Charles Sumner
He had an inborn foreknowledge of impending avalanches and a feeling for unsafe ice.

Rescue Dog of the High Pass |James Arthur Kjelgaard

British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (1 of 2)

unsafe

/ (ʌnˈseɪf) /

adjective

not safe; perilous

(of a criminal conviction) based on inadequate or false evidence

British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (2 of 2)

safe

/ (seɪf) /

adjective

affording security or protection from harm a safe place

(postpositive) free from danger you'll be safe here

secure from risk; certain; sound a safe investment; a safe bet

worthy of trust; prudent a safe companion

tending to avoid controversy or risk a safe player

unable to do harm; not dangerous a criminal safe behind bars; water safe to drink

British informal excellent

on the safe side as a precaution

adverb

in a safe condition the children are safe in bed now

play safe to act in a way least likely to cause danger, controversy, or defeat

noun

a strong container, usually of metal and provided with a secure lock, for storing money or valuables

a small ventilated cupboard-like container for storing food

US and Canadian a slang word for condom

Derived forms of safe

safely, adverb safeness, noun

Word Origin for safe

C13: from Old French salf, from Latin salvus; related to Latin salus safety

Idioms and Phrases with unsafe

safe

In addition to the idioms beginning with safe

safe and sound
safe as houses

also see:

better safe than sorry
on the safe side
play it safe

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

safe

adjective, saf·er, saf·est.

adverb

noun

Idioms for safe

Origin of safe

SYNONYMS FOR safe

OTHER WORDS FROM safe

Words nearby safe

Example sentences from the Web for unsafe

British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (2 of 2)

adjective

adverb

noun

Derived forms of safe

Word Origin for safe

Idioms and Phrases with unsafe

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

safe

adjective, saf·er, saf·est.

adverb

noun

Idioms for safe

Origin of safe

SYNONYMS FOR safe

OTHER WORDS FROM safe

Words nearby safe

Words related to unsafe

Example sentences from the Web for unsafe

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (2 of 2)

adjective

adverb

noun

Derived forms of safe

Word Origin for safe

Idioms and Phrases with unsafe

British Dictionary definitions for unsafe (1 of 2)