safety

The word “safety” means the condition of being protected from danger, risk, or harm. In plain terms, being free from danger or risk of injury — or a mechanism that prevents accidents.

“Safety” is pronounced SAYF-tee (/ˈseɪfti/ in IPA).

Here is “safety” used in a sentence: “Workers wear helmets on site for their own safety.”

“Safety” is a noun.

The word “safety” comes from Latin. From Old French sauveté, ultimately from Latin salvus ("safe, whole").

“Safety” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Safety” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the condition of being protected from danger, risk, or harm.

Safety is protection from accidental harm: hazards like fire, injury, or illness that arise without anyone intending them. Security is protection from deliberate threats, such as theft, attack, or intrusion. A workplace guards safety with fire exits and training; it guards security with locks, guards, and passwords. One counters accidents, the other counters intent.

Safety protects people from injury, illness, and loss, allowing them to live, work, and travel with confidence. Beyond preventing physical harm, it reduces fear and stress, saves the costs of accidents, and lets organisations function smoothly. Whether at home, on the road, or at work, feeling safe is a basic human need.

The opposite is danger: a state in which harm, injury, or loss is likely. Related terms include risk, hazard, peril, and jeopardy, each describing exposure to possible harm. Where safety means being shielded from threats, danger means being open to them, whether through an unsafe place, action, or condition.

Safety is often described by setting or purpose: workplace safety, road safety, fire safety, food safety, and online safety, among others. Each focuses on protecting people from the specific risks of that area. There is also personal safety, which concerns protecting yourself from harm in everyday life.