fail-safe Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a mechanism capable of returning to a safe state in case there is a failure or malfunction
  2. adjective satellite guaranteed not to fail
    • a fail-safe recipe for cheese souffle
  3. adjective satellite eliminating danger by compensating automatically for a failure or malfunction
    • a fail-safe device in a nuclear weapon to deactivate it automatically in the event of accident

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