Noun

(wikipedia safety)

The condition or feeling of being safe; security; certainty.

If you push it to the limit, safety is not guaranteed.

(mechanics) A mechanism on a weapon or dangerous equipment designed to prevent accidental firing.

Be sure that the safety is set before proceeding.

(American football) An instance of a player being sacked or tackled in the end zone, or steps out of the end zone and off the field, resulting in two points for the opposite team.

''He sacked the quarterback in the end zone for a safety .

(American football) 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.

The free safety made a game-saving tackle on the runner who had broken past the linebackers.

Preservation from escape; close custody.

* Shakespeare

Imprison him, / Deliver him to safety ; and return.

Noun

(uncountable) Health, safety, happiness and prosperity; well-being in any respect.

* , chapter=19

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare . Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}

(uncountable, chiefly, US) Various forms of financial aid provided by the government to those who are in need of it (abbreviated form of Welfare assistance ).