# unsafe

/ənˈseɪf/ (US) · /ʌnsˈeɪf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unsafe
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. dangerous

adjective · CEFR A2

dangerous and likely to cause harm or an accident.

For teachers: not safe; involving or exposing someone to risk, danger, or harm.

- The old wooden bridge was unsafe to cross after the heavy rain.
- The building inspector declared the structure unsafe for habitation due to significant cracks in the foundation and faulty electrical wiring.

### 2. legal verdict

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

used to describe a legal decision that is probably wrong or unfair.

For teachers: referring to a legal conviction or verdict that is considered likely to be a miscarriage of justice.

- The court decided the original conviction was unsafe because of new evidence.
- The appeals court ruled the verdict unsafe, citing the prosecution's failure to disclose critical forensic evidence during the initial trial.

Usage: In British legal contexts, 'unsafe' is the standard term for a conviction that must be overturned.

### 3. to prepare a weapon

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to change a gun's setting so it is ready to fire.

For teachers: to remove the safety catch or mechanism from a firearm to make it ready for discharge.

- The soldier was ordered to unsafe his weapon as they approached the target.
- The protocol requires the operator to unsafe the device only after confirming the target's coordinates and receiving final clearance.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and is relatively rare outside of military or technical manuals.

## Examples

- The old bridge is unsafe for heavy trucks.
- The inspector closed the factory because the electrical wiring was unsafe and posed a fire risk.
- Legal experts argued that the original conviction was unsafe due to the discovery of new evidence that contradicted the primary witness's testimony.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.