safe-ty (safte)n.pl. safe-ties. 1. The condition of being safe; freedom from danger, risk, or injury. 2. A device designed to prevent accidents, as a lock on a firearm preventing accidental firing. 3. Football. A play in which a member of the offensive team downs the ball, willingly or unwillingly, behind his own goal line, resulting in two points for the defensive team. One of two defensive backs; a safetyman. 4. Slang. A condom.n. attributive. Often used to modify another noun: safety precautions; safety rules.
Excerpted from American Heritage Talking DictionaryCopyright © 1997 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
