What does "safeguard" mean?

Something that serves as a guard or protection; a defense.

What is a synonym for "safeguard"?

Common synonyms include: precaution, advocate, aegis, arm, arm guard, armament.

Pronounced //ˈseɪfɡɑː(ɹ)d//.

//ˈseɪfɡɑː(ɹ)d// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Noun

1
Something that serves as a guard or protection; a defense.
"Getting a flu shot is a good safeguard against illness."
2
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc. wordnet
3
One who, or that which, defends or protects; defence; protection.
"Thy sword, the safeguard of thy brother's throne."
4
a document or escort providing safe passage through a region especially in time of war wordnet
5
A safe-conduct or passport, especially in time of war.
"the inheritance of their loves and safeguard"

Show 1 more definition

6
The monitor lizard. obsolete
"The same idea is entertained of the Safeguard in America, as of the Monitor in Africa, and other parts of the Old World, […]"

Verb

1
To protect, to keep safe.
"She kept a savings to safeguard against debt and emergencies."
2
make safe wordnet
3
To implement safeguarding. Ireland, UK, broadly
4
escort safely wordnet
5
To escort safely.

"The safeguard of the state shall be the supreme law."

From Middle English savegard, from Middle French sauvegarde, from Old French salve garde, sauve garde, reconstructed as safe + guard.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.