Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

safeguard

/ˈseɪfɡɑɹd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.55 in modern English

Syllables
safe-guard
IPA
/ˈseɪfɡɑɹd/
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Something that serves as a guard or protection; a defense.

noun

One who, or that which, defends or protects; defence; protection.

noun

The monitor lizard.

Obsolete

verb

To protect, to keep safe.

verb

To implement safeguarding.

British usage

verb

To escort safely.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English savegard, from Middle French sauvegarde, from Old French salve garde, sauve garde, reconstructed as safe + guard.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈseɪfɡɑɹd/
  • British English: /ˈseɪfɡɑːd/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce safeguard?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈseɪfɡɑɹd/.
What does safeguard mean?
Something that serves as a guard or protection; a defense.
Where does safeguard come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce safeguard

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “safeguard”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈseɪfɡɑɹd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “safeguard”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “safeguard” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.