safe·guard
ˈsāf-ˌgärd 
1
a
: pass, safe-conduct
2
a
: a precautionary measure, stipulation, or device
b
: a technical contrivance to prevent accident
safeguarded; safeguarding; safeguards
Synonyms
Examples of safeguard in a Sentence
Noun
The new law has safeguards to protect the rights of citizens.
There are many safeguards built into the system to prevent fraud.
Verb
laws that safeguard the rights of citizens
You need to safeguard your computer against viruses.
There are steps you can take to safeguard against identity theft.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024
New York Times - Some workers are becoming disillusioned with the myth that being an indispensable employee is a surefire safeguard against layoffs.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The goal was to implement a set of safeguards that would satisfy the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an interagency body charged with evaluating national security risks associated with foreign firms acquiring or taking major stakes in US companies.
—Louise Matsakis, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
What gives: Legal safeguards are in place to protect patients from big bills for some out-of-network care, including air-ambulance rides.
—Molly Castle Work, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
The report focuses on improving the two main safeguards that California law puts in place to hold charter schools accountable: audits and charter authorizers, education agencies that are required to conduct ongoing oversight of charters.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
In the Bay Area, where housing costs have skyrocketed, rent control can serve as a necessary safeguard for vulnerable populations, including small businesses and workers outside of the tech industry.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
However, reinforcement learning is not the only method for adding safeguards to AI chatbots.
—Maxwell Zeff and Thomas Germain / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Endangered species The Biden administration on Thursday strengthened protections of the Endangered Species Act, repealing Trump-era rules that had stripped safeguards for some plants and animals impacted by human development and the climate crisis.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
But they’re forced to fight for a voice in safeguarding it.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
The platform employs industry-standard security protocols, such as encryption and two-factor authentication, to safeguard user data and prevent unauthorized access.
—Stephanie Tsai, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
To safeguard your vision, here's how to make a box pinhole projector with common household items.
—John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 7 Apr. 2024
From 1976 until this year, Italy had allocated funds to help safeguard Venice, and on Thursday, Mr. Brugnaro chided the country’s central government for not renewing that funding.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Creating a museum that teaches and safeguards history, without exploiting the sources of that history, may require a different approach.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
On the Illinois side, lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill that would protect wetlands from development and pollution, in order to safeguard water quality and limit flooding.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
While meant to safeguard GE's future growth, this strategy created an unwieldy conglomerate structure and worsened its market vulnerability, notably during the 2008 financial crisis.
—Jim Osman, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The organization is crucial to world security and a safeguard against any potential hostility from Russia, Smith said.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024
New York Times - Some workers are becoming disillusioned with the myth that being an indispensable employee is a surefire safeguard against layoffs.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The goal was to implement a set of safeguards that would satisfy the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an interagency body charged with evaluating national security risks associated with foreign firms acquiring or taking major stakes in US companies.
—Louise Matsakis, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
What gives: Legal safeguards are in place to protect patients from big bills for some out-of-network care, including air-ambulance rides.
—Molly Castle Work, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
The report focuses on improving the two main safeguards that California law puts in place to hold charter schools accountable: audits and charter authorizers, education agencies that are required to conduct ongoing oversight of charters.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
In the Bay Area, where housing costs have skyrocketed, rent control can serve as a necessary safeguard for vulnerable populations, including small businesses and workers outside of the tech industry.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
However, reinforcement learning is not the only method for adding safeguards to AI chatbots.
—Maxwell Zeff and Thomas Germain / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Endangered species The Biden administration on Thursday strengthened protections of the Endangered Species Act, repealing Trump-era rules that had stripped safeguards for some plants and animals impacted by human development and the climate crisis.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) debated the proper way to safeguard consumers from misinformation and fearmongering in health food markets.
—TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
But they’re forced to fight for a voice in safeguarding it.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
The platform employs industry-standard security protocols, such as encryption and two-factor authentication, to safeguard user data and prevent unauthorized access.
—Stephanie Tsai, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
To safeguard your vision, here's how to make a box pinhole projector with common household items.
—John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 7 Apr. 2024
From 1976 until this year, Italy had allocated funds to help safeguard Venice, and on Thursday, Mr. Brugnaro chided the country’s central government for not renewing that funding.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Creating a museum that teaches and safeguards history, without exploiting the sources of that history, may require a different approach.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
On the Illinois side, lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill that would protect wetlands from development and pollution, in order to safeguard water quality and limit flooding.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
While meant to safeguard GE's future growth, this strategy created an unwieldy conglomerate structure and worsened its market vulnerability, notably during the 2008 financial crisis.
—Jim Osman, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'safeguard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near safeguard
Cite this Entry
“Safeguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safeguard. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
safeguard
1 of 2 noun
safe·guard
ˈsāf-ˌgärd
: something that protects and gives safety : defense
safeguard
2 of 2 verb
: to make safe or secure : protect
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