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safe

adj. · n.
US //ˈseɪf// UK //sˈeɪf// safe
  1. 1 not in danger (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    not in danger or likely to be hurt.

    free from danger, injury, or the threat of harm.

    Example

    The children are safe inside the house while it rains outside.

    Example

    The rescue team confirmed that all hikers were safe and accounted for after the storm passed through the valley.
  2. 2 free from risk (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not likely to cause any trouble, mistakes, or loss.

    involving little or no risk of failure, error, or financial loss.

    Example

    Putting your money in a bank is usually a safe investment.

    Example

    The board decided that a conservative expansion strategy was the safe choice given the current volatility of the global market.
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  1. 3 cautious (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    avoiding danger or not taking any chances.

    characterised by caution and a desire to avoid unnecessary risks.

    Example

    It is better to be safe than sorry when driving in the snow.

    Example

    The manager took a safe approach to the negotiations, refusing to commit to any long-term contracts until the budget was finalised.
  2. 4 cool or okay (adj.)
    C1 Advanced British English Slang

    used to say that something is good, cool, or that you agree.

    used as a term of approbation or to indicate that a situation is acceptable.

    Example

    Don't worry about the money, it's safe.

    Example

    He's a safe guy, you can trust him to help us out with the move.

    Teacher's tip

    Common in Multicultural London English (MLE); learners should be aware it sounds very informal and regional.
  3. 5 programming (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a way of writing computer code that prevents common errors.

    referring to a programming language or operation that prevents certain types of memory or logic errors.

    Example

    Rust is known for being a memory-safe language.

    Example

    The developer prioritised thread-safe operations to ensure the application would not crash under heavy concurrent loads.
  4. 6 locking box (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a strong metal box with a lock used for keeping money or valuable things.

    a reinforced container, typically made of steel, equipped with a complex lock for the secure storage of valuables.

    Example

    The hotel room has a small safe for your passport and cash.

    Example

    The burglars were unable to crack the heavy safe, despite having several hours to work on the combination lock.
Origin

From Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic salwos, from Proto-Indo-European solh₂- (“whole, every”). Displaced native Old English sicor (secure, sure).

Idioms2 entries

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