Safety
Safety is the state of being “safe” (from French sauf), the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Safeness (noun)
The property of being safe.
“The safeness of the new drug hadn’t been proven, so it could only be used experimentally, and you had to sign a waiver accepting the risks.”
Safety (noun)
The condition or feeling of being safe; security; certainty.
“If you push it to the limit, safety is not guaranteed.”
Safety (noun)
A mechanism on a weapon or dangerous equipment designed to prevent accidental firing.
“Be sure that the safety is set before proceeding.”
Safety (noun)
An instance of a player being sacked or tackled in the end zone, or steps out of the end zone and off the field, resulting in two points for the opposite team.
“He sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety.”
Safety (noun)
Any of the defensive players who are in position furthest from the line of scrimmage and whose responsibility is to defend against passes as well as to be the tacklers of last resort.
“The free safety made a game-saving tackle on the runner who had broken past the linebackers.”
Safety (noun)
A safety squeeze.
Safety (noun)
Preservation from escape; close custody.
Safety (noun)
A safety bicycle.
Safety (verb)
To secure (a mechanical component, as in aviation) to keep it from becoming detached even under vibration.
Safety (verb)
to secure a firing pin, as in guns, to keep the gun from firing