safety - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

A safety is a device that helps keep you from doing bad things, like the safety on a gun that prevents you from pulling the trigger accidentally.

Safety, besides meaning "the state of being safe," is used for things that promote safety. If you designate a special meeting place in case of emergency, that place is a safety. If you use contraception during sex, that's also a safety, to prevent pregnancy. In football it's a safety if a player is tackled behind his own goal line. And if you hit the baseball in a way to ensure you reach the base, that's called a safety too.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: safety

1	n	the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
2	n	(baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely
3	n	contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: safety

1

n the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions

“insure the safety of the children”

“the reciprocal of safety is risk”

Antonyms:: danger
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; biosafety
safety from exposure to infectious agents; risklessness
safety as a consequence of entailing no risk; impregnability, invulnerability
having the strength to withstand attack; salvation
the state of being saved or preserved from harm; security
the state of being free from danger or injury; peace, public security
the general security of public places; secureness
the state of freedom from fear or danger; protection, shelter
the condition of being protected

Type of:: condition, status
a state at a particular time

n a device designed to prevent injury or accidents

Synonyms:: guard, safety device

Types:: fender
a low metal guard to confine falling coals to a hearth; safety catch, safety lock
guard consisting of a locking device that prevents a weapon from being fired

Type of:: device
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

n a safe place

“He ran to safety”

Synonyms:: refuge

Types:: harborage, harbourage
(nautical) a place of refuge (as for a ship)

Type of:: area, country
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)

2

n (baseball) the successful act of striking a baseball in such a way that the batter reaches base safely

Synonyms:: base hit

Types:: show 8 types...; hide 8 types...; home run, homer
a base hit on which the batter scores a run; bingle, single
a base hit on which the batter stops safely at first base; double, two-bagger, two-base hit, two-baser
a base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base; three-bagger, three-base hit, triple
a base hit at which the batter stops safely at third base; line single, line-drive single
a single resulting from a line drive; line double, line-drive double
a double resulting from a line drive; line triple, line-drive triple
a triple resulting from a line drive; solo blast, solo homer
a home run with no runners on base

Type of:: hit
(baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)

n a score in American football; a player is tackled behind his own goal line

Type of:: score
the act of scoring in a game or sport

3

n contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse

Synonyms:: condom, prophylactic, rubber, safe

Type of:: birth control device, contraceptive, contraceptive device, preventative, preventive, prophylactic device
an agent or device intended to prevent conception