safeguard

1 of 2

noun

safe·​guard ˈsāf-ˌgärd How to pronounce safeguard (audio)
Synonyms of safeguard
1
a
: pass, safe-conduct
b
: convoy, escort
2
a
: a precautionary measure, stipulation, or device
b
: a technical contrivance to prevent accident

safeguard

2 of 2

verb

safeguarded; safeguarding; safeguards

transitive verb

1
: to provide a safeguard for
2
: to make safe : protect

Synonyms of safeguard

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for safeguard

defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack.

defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack.

defend the country

protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.

a hard hat to protect your head

shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack.

shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand

guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger.

White House entrances are well guarded

safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger.

our civil liberties must be safeguarded

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Critics argue the current draft lacks adequate ethics safeguards. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 1 July 2026 Another safeguard is that when a bicycle reaches a traffic light, the cyclist cannot make a left turn, but must drive across the street and wait for the light to change there. — Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Verb
Some of those properties may now be serving as locations where hidden assets are being safeguarded. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 That's meant to safeguard the summit, but also to display strength and underscore Turkey’s commitment to the military alliance, even as it is often portrayed as an outlier within it. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for safeguard

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English saufgarde, from Anglo-French, from sauf safe + garde guard

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1501, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of safeguard was in the 15th century

Rhymes for safeguard

See All Rhymes for safeguard

Browse Nearby Words

safe-edge file
safeguard
safe haven
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Safeguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safeguard. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

safeguard

1 of 2 noun
safe·​guard ˈsāf-ˌgärd How to pronounce safeguard (audio)
: something that protects and gives safety : defense

safeguard

2 of 2 verb
: to make safe or secure : protect

More from Merriam-Webster on safeguard

Nglish: Translation of safeguard for Spanish Speakers

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