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to safeguard

to safeguard

45 3.7
To protect someone or something from harm
  • verb
  • /ˈseɪfˌɡɑrd/
translation icon : salvaguardar
  • An institution might be hoping to safeguard a reputation for rigor and standards.
  • safeguard interests
  • safeguard individual rights
  • safeguard children

And our job is to safeguard and protect our borders.

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Examples

  • Immediate action is required to safeguard the health and well-being of all of these people.

  • Nations established modern democracies to safeguard against the potentially destructive whims of a single individual.

  • There are steps you must take to safeguard yourself.

  • We have to repair the damage and safeguard the ship.

  • And our job is to safeguard and protect our borders.

  • Nick, I'm sorry, but this is the best way to safeguard your family.

  • Immediate action is required to safeguard the health and well-being of all of these people.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Vendor contracts may lack sufficient clauses to safeguard student privacy at the legally required level.

    Academic text (2015)
  • There are steps you must take to safeguard yourself.

  • I have an obligation to safeguard a hospital, no matter what it costs me.

Synonyms

to protect
vsto safeguard
1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

aims to make things safe initially rather than provide ongoing guarding
to defend
vsto safeguard
1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

focuses on resisting direct attack or fighting threats rather than general safety
to cover
vsto safeguard
352 1.9

To protect someone, for example by guarding them in a game

is broader used across specific roles or situations rather than general safety
to shield
vsto safeguard
146 2.7

To protect someone or something from harm

focuses on guarding against real harm rather than general unpleasant experiences
to shield from
vsto safeguard
56 3.3

To protect people or things from harm

focuses on blocking harm rather than wider actions to make things safe
to insulate
vsto safeguard
27 6.0

Keep someone apart from others to protect them from harm or criticism

focuses on separation from harm rather than active steps to make things safe
to keep safe
vsto safeguard
9 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

emphasizes taking action to make things safe rather than general assurance
to buffer
vsto safeguard
5 4.6

To make a shock or harm have less effect

is about softening blows or impact rather than making things safe beforehand
to shield against
vsto safeguard
3 3.8

To protect a person or thing from harm

is broader meaning to make things safe rather than only block harm
to forfend
vsto safeguard
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To stop danger or harm from happening

focuses on preventing bad events rather than ongoing measures for safety
to bulwark
vsto safeguard
8.2

To protect someone or something by giving strong support like a wall

is about strong structural support rather than general actions to make things safe
to forefend
vsto safeguard
  • Archaic
9.9

To stop something bad from happening

emphasizes stopping harm before it occurs rather than making things safe

Antonyms

191 6.3

Put someone or something in danger of harm

124 3.7

To put someone or something in danger of harm

How Protective

to fortify
39 6.2
to safeguard
45 3.7
to protect
1.0
to shield
146 2.7
to guard
418 1.0

Surface Forms

safeguard infinitive
safeguarded past participle
safeguarding present participle
safeguards third person singular

Morphology

safeguard = safe + guard (transparent) = safe + guard

The meaning is directly built from 'safe' + 'guard' and denotes protecting or keeping something safe, which is obvious to learners.

Etymology

Safeguard comes from joining safe ('free from danger') and guard ('to watch or protect'), so to safeguard someone or something is to keep them safe from harm.