unsafe
gb/ʌnsˈeɪf/ us/ʌnsˈeɪf/
B1
English
~ 8300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
likely to cause harm or injury
not safe and may cause harm or injury
Usage pattern:
[something] is unsafe to use
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"not safe"* instead of using the single word *"unsafe"*. Both are correct, but *"unsafe"* is more natural in many collocations, such as *"unsafe working conditions"* or *"unsafe to drink"*. Another confusion is using *"insecure"* for physical danger; *"insecure"* usually describes emotional feelings or weak protection, while *"unsafe"* focuses on risk of harm.
Synonyms
dangerous (Very common and general; often a bit stronger or more emotional than "unsafe".)
|
hazardous (Often used in official or technical contexts, especially about chemicals or jobs.)
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risky (Focuses more on the chance of something bad happening, not only physical harm.)
Antonyms
safe (The direct opposite; suggests no real danger of harm.)
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secure (Stresses protection from danger or attack, especially for places and people.)
Collocations
unsafe working conditions
|unsafe drinking water
|unsafe building
|unsafe environment
|declare [something] unsafe
|unsafe to use
Themes
safety
|health
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The old bridge was declared unsafe and closed to traffic.
- Children were playing on an unsafe balcony with broken railings.
- Workers went on strike to protest what they called unsafe working conditions.
- Scientists warned that the river water was unsafe to drink after the chemical spill.
- She felt unsafe walking alone through the poorly lit parking lot.
Learner examples
- This ladder is unsafe to climb.
- The doctor said the air in the factory is unsafe.
- It is unsafe to drive so fast in the rain.
- The building looks unsafe after the earthquake.
- Many people feel unsafe on that dark street at night.
adjective
B2
property
2
not secure; open to attack
not well protected, so someone can attack, steal, or use it in a bad way
Usage pattern:
[system/website/password] is unsafe
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *"dangerous"* instead of *"unsafe"* for digital or data security, as in *"a dangerous website"*. While this is understandable, native speakers more often say *"unsafe website"* or *"unsecure / insecure website"* in this context.
Synonyms
insecure (Common in technical and security contexts; focuses on weak protection.)
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vulnerable (Highlights that something can be easily attacked or harmed, especially systems or data.)
|
unprotected (Plain word showing that there is little or no protection in place.)
Antonyms
secure (Standard opposite in IT and security; suggests strong protection against attacks.)
|
protected (Emphasizes that guards, locks, or technical measures keep something safe.)
Collocations
unsafe website
|unsafe network
|unsafe password
|unsafe system
|marked as unsafe
|considered unsafe
Themes
technology
|security
|business
|law
Examples
- Your browser is warning that this website is unsafe.
- The company was fined for storing customer data in an unsafe online system.
- Using the same simple word as every password is extremely unsafe.
- Experts say the network is unsafe and could be hacked at any time.
- He clicked on a link from an unsafe email and infected his computer with malware.
Learner examples
- This Wi‑Fi network is unsafe to use.
- The bank said my old password was unsafe.
- Do not enter your credit card number on an unsafe website.
- The app may be unsafe if you download it from unknown pages.
- They moved their files from an unsafe server to a secure one.
adjective
B2
action
3
sexual activity without protection
describes sex without a condom or other protection that lowers the chance of pregnancy or disease
Usage pattern:
unsafe sex
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *"unsafe sex"* just means sex that feels emotionally wrong or uncomfortable. In health and education contexts, it has a specific meaning: sex without protection that increases the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.
Synonyms
unprotected (Often used as *"unprotected sex"*, the most direct synonym in this health context.)
Antonyms
protected (As in *"protected sex"*, shows that contraception or barriers are used.)
|
safe (As in *"safe sex"*, a very common health-education term.)
Collocations
unsafe sex
|practice unsafe sex
|have unsafe sex
|risk of unsafe sex
|avoid unsafe sex
Themes
health
|relationships
|education
Examples
- The campaign aims to reduce the number of young people having unsafe sex.
- He regretted having unsafe sex after learning about the risk of infections.
- Doctors warned that unsafe sex can lead to serious health problems.
- Schools now give clear information about the dangers of unsafe sex.
- She went to a clinic for tests because she had had unsafe sex.
Learner examples
- Unsafe sex can cause disease.
- They learned in class why unsafe sex is dangerous.
- The nurse told them not to have unsafe sex.
- Condoms help people avoid unsafe sex.
- He was worried because he had unsafe sex last month.
Grammar
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.