safety
/ˈseɪfti/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.97 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A safety lock or safety catch: a mechanism on a weapon or dangerous equipment designed to prevent accidental firing or operation.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
An instance of a player being sacked or tackled in the end zone, or stepping out of the end zone and off the field, resulting in two points to the opposite team.
Countable; Uncountable
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.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "If you push it to the limit, safety is not guaranteed."
- "He managed to reach the border and escape to safety."
- "Oh, oh! “Go to safety”! Why didn’t I think of that⁉ Here I am in danger when, really, I could simply be going to safety! I shouldn’t have wasted your time by calling in the first place!"
- "Be sure that the safety is set before proceeding."
- "[…] imprison him, […] / Deliver him to safety; and return,"
- "He sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety."
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English savete, from Old French sauveté, from earlier salvetet, from Medieval Latin salvitās, salvitātem, from Latin salvus.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: savete, sauveté, salvitās, salvus