Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

fail-safe

adjective

/ˈfeɪlˌseɪf/

Definition

A fail-safe is a mechanism or strategy that is designed to prevent accidents or mitigate consequences if a failure occurs.

Examples

The fail-safe design of the airplane ensured that it could land safely even if one of its engines failed.
The software includes a fail-safe feature that automatically saves your work in case of a sudden shutdown.

Meaning

The concept of fail-safe is used to describe systems that have built-in protections to ensure that, in case of a malfunction or failure, safety is prioritized to avoid disastrous outcomes.