ENGLISH
REFERENCE

safety

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈseɪfti// UK //sˈeɪfti// safe·ty Archaic General-service

n. the state of being protected from danger, harm, or risk. You use this to describe feeling secure or being in a place where nothing bad can happen.

n. the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. Often used to describe physical security or the reliability of a mechanism.


SIMPLE

The children can play here in complete safety.

CONTEXTUAL

The airline's top priority is the safety of its passengers and crew during every flight.

COMPLEX

Strict government regulations ensure that workplace safety standards are maintained across the manufacturing sector to prevent avoidable accidents and long-term health issues.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English savete, from Old French sauveté, from earlier salvetet, from Medieval Latin salvitās, salvitātem, from Latin salvus.

Usage

Primarily uncountable; however, it can be used as a countable noun in specific contexts like American football or when referring to a locking mechanism on a firearm.

Pitfall

for your own safefor your own safetyLearners often confuse the adjective 'safe' with the noun 'safety' when describing a state of protection.

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