|Origin:||sauveté, from sauf; SAFE1|
safe‧ty S3 W2 plural safeties
when someone or something is safe from danger or harm
not in danger[uncountable]
We were able to watch the lions in complete safety.
For safety, always climb with a partner.
You shouldn't travel alone, for safety's sake (=in order to be safe).
For your own safety, please do not smoke inside the plane.
how safe something is to use, do etc
Campaigners have challenged the safety of genetically-modified foods.
safety standards/regulations/precautions etc (=things that are done in order to make sure that something is safe)
The device meets safety standards.
Lower speed limits are part of a new road safety campaign.
how safe someone is in a particular situation:
The boy had been missing for five days and there were fears for his safety.
a place where you are safe from danger
30,000 people fled to the safety of the capital.
get/lead/drag etc somebody to safety
Firefighters led the children to safety.
They reached safety seconds before the bomb went off.
used to say that it is safer to be in a group than alone
a way of getting two points in American football by making the other team put the ball down in its own goal
a lock on a gun that stops anyone from shooting it by accident [= safety catch British English]
gun[countable] American English
equipment etc that keeps you safe when you are doing something dangerous