safe space
Americannoun
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a place that provides a physically and emotionally safe environment for a person or group of people, especially a place where people can freely express themselves without fear of prejudice, negative judgment, etc..
a safe space for single moms to share their experiences.
Usage
What does safe space mean? A safe space is a physical or metaphorical place for people, usually of marginalized identities, to feel free of judgment or harm
Etymology
Origin of safe space
First recorded in 2005–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The couple began by trying different harnesses and getting Roo used to it in the house before introducing a travel backpack Roo could use if she needed a safe space while out and about.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
And 12-step support groups, including Debtors Anonymous, provide a safe space to talk about your willingness to splurge.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
“Saturday Night Live” will always be a safe space for politicians who don’t mind laughing at themselves.
From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026
I’m thankful for the small wins and pray as we look for a way out, try to get to a safe space, back home to America is the goal.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026
What if, somehow, it’s been Ziggy’s safe space all this time, too?
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.