Meaning & use
unsafe
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Likely to cause injury or harm.
Grammar: Goes before a noun or after be: unsafe conditions; the bridge is unsafe.
Patterns
- unsafe for someone
- unsafe to do something
The old bridge was declared unsafe for heavy trucks.
It is unsafe to swim in the river after storms.
The inspector found unsafe wiring in the building.
adjectiveafter a verb
Feeling in danger or without protection, especially when someone is anxious.
Grammar: Often follows feel: she felt unsafe walking alone.
Patterns
- feel unsafe
- unsafe in somewhere
Many residents felt unsafe on the poorly lit street.
The child felt unsafe in the new school.
Nobody should feel unsafe at home.
adjectivebefore a nounlegalformal
Not reliable or secure as an argument or legal decision; likely to be overturned.
Grammar: A legal and formal use: an unsafe conviction.
Patterns
- an unsafe verdict
- an unsafe conviction
The court ruled the conviction unsafe because of missing evidence.
The judge called the verdict unsafe.
Word forms
| comparative | more unsafe |
|---|---|
| superlative | most unsafe |
Common combinations
- unsafe conditions
- Workers complained about unsafe conditions.
- feel unsafe
- I feel unsafe cycling without a helmet.
- declared unsafe
- The building was declared unsafe and closed.
- unsafe drinking water
- The flood left the town with unsafe drinking water.
- unsafe working practices
- The company was fined for unsafe working practices.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dangerous
- Dangerous is stronger and can describe something actively harmful, while unsafe suggests protection is missing.
- hazardous
- Hazardous is formal and describes things such as chemicals or conditions that bring risk.
- risky
- Risky points to an action that might go wrong, with a chance of a good outcome.
- insecure
- Insecure usually describes feelings or poor locking and fastening rather than physical danger.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: unsafe or insecure? unsafe or unsure?
unsafe vs insecure
Insecure mostly describes self-doubt or weak protection, whereas unsafe describes danger.
unsafe vs unsure
Unsure means not certain and has no connection to danger.
Practice
The inspector closed the stairway because it was ____ and could collapse.
Choose one answer.
A stairway that could collapse is unsafe. Unsure, unseen and unsaid look similar but have different meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unsafe”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.