Meaning & use
safety glasses
Last updated
Meaning
nounplural
Strong protective eyewear worn to shield the eyes from dust, chips, sparks or splashes.
Grammar: Always plural: safety glasses are required; use a pair of safety glasses for one.
Patterns
- wear safety glasses
- a pair of safety glasses
Everyone in the workshop must wear safety glasses.
I bought a pair of safety glasses before using the grinder.
Her safety glasses fogged up when she moved to the warm room.
Common combinations
- wear safety glasses
- You should always wear safety glasses when cutting wood.
- pair of safety glasses
- Pack a pair of safety glasses in the toolbox.
- clear safety glasses
- Clear safety glasses are best indoors.
- prescription safety glasses
- He ordered prescription safety glasses for the factory.
- put on safety glasses
- Put on safety glasses before you start the saw.
Synonyms and how they differ
- safety goggles
- Safety goggles seal around the eyes and protect against splashes or fine dust, whereas safety glasses look like ordinary glasses with side shields.
- protective eyewear
- Protective eyewear is a broad technical term covering all types, including glasses and goggles.
- eye protection
- Eye protection names the purpose, while safety glasses names a particular object.
Word family
Commonly confused: safety glasses or safety glasses vs. sunglasses?
safety glasses vs safety glasses vs. sunglasses
Sunglasses cut sunlight but are not designed to withstand impacts, whereas safety glasses are tested for protection.
Practice
Before using the drill, the instructor reminded us to put on our ___.
Choose one answer.
Safety glasses protect eyes from flying debris. Sunglasses, reading glasses and fashion glasses are not designed to withstand impact.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “safety glasses”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.