fail-safe
|fail-safe|
B2
/ˈfeɪlˌseɪf/
prevent failure
Etymology
Etymology Information
'fail-safe' originates from the combination of 'fail' and 'safe', where 'fail' meant 'to fall short' and 'safe' meant 'free from harm'.
Historical Evolution
'fail-safe' was coined in the mid-20th century to describe systems designed to prevent catastrophic failure.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a system designed to prevent failure', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a system or plan that is designed to prevent failure or to minimize the effects of failure.
The engineers implemented a fail-safe to prevent data loss.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45