WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
safe /seɪf/USA pronunciation
adj., saf•er, saf•est, n.
adj.
n. [countable]
safe•ly, adv.
safe•ness, n. [uncountable]See -salv-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- offering security from danger;
giving protection:a safe neighborhood. - free from injury or risk:They arrived home safe.
- reasonably correct:a safe estimate.
- dependable;
trustworthy:a safe guide. - careful to avoid risk:a very safe driver.
- Sport[Baseball.]reaching base without being put out:[be + ~]safe at home!
- (of a secret) that will not be told to others:[be + ~]Your secret is safe with me.
n. [countable]
- a steel box or other secure place for valuables:a safe in the wall, hidden behind a bookshelf.
- play (it) safe, to avoid taking unnecessary risks:He played it safe and didn't drive fast in the snow.
safe•ly, adv.
safe•ness, n. [uncountable]See -salv-.
safe
(sāf USA pronunciation ), adj., saf•er, saf•est, n.
adj.
n.
safe′ly, adv.
safe′ness, n.
adj.
- secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk:a safe place.
- free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk:to arrive safe and sound.
- involving little or no risk of mishap, error, etc.:a safe estimate.
- dependable or trustworthy:a safe guide.
- careful to avoid danger or controversy:a safe player; a safe play.
- denied the chance to do harm;
in secure custody:a criminal safe in jail. - Sport[Baseball.]
- reaching base without being put out:safe on the throw to first base.
- making it possible to reach a base:a safe slide.
n.
- a steel or iron box or repository for money, jewels, papers, etc.
- any receptacle or structure for the storage or preservation of articles:a meat safe.
- Building(in plumbing)
- a pan for catching leakage.
- template (def. 7).
- Slang Termsa condom.
- Latin salvus intact, whole; (noun, nominal) late Middle English save, origin, originally derivative of save1, assimilated to the adjective, adjectival; compare salvation
- Anglo-French saf, Old French sauf
- (adjective, adjectival) Middle English sauf, saf 1250–1300
safe′ness, n.
- 1. protected, sound, guarded. Safe, secure may both imply that something can be regarded as free from danger. These words are frequently interchangeable. Safe, however, is applied rather to a person or thing that is out of or has passed beyond the reach of danger:The ship is safe in port.Secure is applied to that about which there is no need to fear or worry:to feel secure about the future; The foundation of the house does not seem very secure. 4. sure, reliable. 5. wary, careful. 8. strongbox, coffer, chest, safe-deposit box.
'safely' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
get
- guide dog
- junction box
- kerb drill
- lollipop man
- navigate
- open prison
- organotin
- run
- surely
- avoid
- Baltimore chop
- butt
- car seat
- contain
- corner
- crown
- designated driver
- entrench
- envelope
- error
- extra-base hit
- heart
- home
- home plate
- machinable
- negligible
- outride
- overbear
- parachute
- passed ball
- playpen
- pull
- run-out
- Texas leaguer
- throw
- triple
- two-base hit
- weather
- wild pitch
- window
- safe-deposit box
- scratch hit
- seat belt
- single
- skin
- stand-up
- steam