safe

A2 Topic:Safety & Risk

US /seɪf/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like chafe /tʃ/ vs /s/

Freq #560

Meanings

1

adj
Not in danger and not likely to be harmed.

You'll be safe from the storm here in the cabin.
2

adj
Not likely to cause harm or danger.

It's safe to eat these berries.
3

noun
A strong metal box with a lock, used to keep money and valuables secure.

She kept her jewelry in a safe in the bedroom.
4

adj
Unlikely to result in loss or failure.

He made a safe investment in government bonds.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · not likely to cause harm or... harmless

4 adj · unlikely to result in loss... secure dependable

More guarded invulnerable ok protected

Opposites

dangerous hazardous unsafe

Word family

Forms safersafessafest

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

safe place
a location where one is not in danger

Adjective + noun
safe return
the act of arriving back somewhere without harm

Adjective + noun
safe sex
sexual activity using precautions against disease or unwanted pregnancy

Adjective + noun
environmentally safe
unlikely to harm the natural environment when used as intended

Adverb + adjective

Proverbs (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic *salwos, from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole, every”). Displaced native Old English sicor (secure, sure).

*solh₂- Proto-Indo-European sauf Middle English salvus Latin *salwos Proto-Italic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Safety & Risk

External links

# safe

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /seɪf/
**Frequency rank:** 560

## Meanings
1. Not in danger and not likely to be harmed.
2. Not likely to cause harm or danger.
3. A strong metal box with a lock, used to keep money and valuables secure.
4. Unlikely to result in loss or failure.

## Examples
- You'll be safe from the storm here in the cabin.
- It's safe to eat these berries.
- She kept her jewelry in a safe in the bedroom.
- He made a safe investment in government bonds.

## Synonyms
- guarded
- invulnerable
- ok
- protected
- secure

## Antonyms
- dangerous
- hazardous
- unsafe

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *solh₂-
- Root: sauf
- Root: salvus
- Root: *salwos

## Etymology
From Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic *salwos, from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole, every”). Displaced native Old English sicor (secure, sure).

## AI Etymology
Safe comes from Middle English sauf, safe, saf, saaf, from Old French sauf, saulf, salf (“safe”), from Latin salvus (“whole, safe”), from Proto-Italic *salwos, from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole, every”). Displaced native Old English sicor (secure, sure). Modern senses include not in danger and not likely to be harmed. and not likely to cause harm or danger..

## Topics
- Safety & Risk

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