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fail-safe
/ˈfeɪl.seɪf/
designed to prevent catastrophic failure
The system includes a fail-safe mechanism to shut down automatically if temperatures rise too high.
The system has a built-in safety feature that activates to prevent damage or danger when temperatures become unsafe.
Engineering
technical
A mechanism or design feature that automatically prevents or mitigates failure in a system, especially to avoid catastrophic consequences.
The nuclear reactor has multiple fail-safe systems to ensure safety in case of an emergency.
The reactor is equipped with several safety mechanisms that activate automatically to prevent accidents.
The software includes a fail-safe to revert to a previous stable version if an update fails.
The software has a backup system that restores the previous working version if the update process encounters errors.
Common in engineering, aviation, and technology to describe safety-critical systems.
Collocations
fail-safe mechanisma built-in safety feature that prevents failurefail-safe systema design that ensures safety even if part of the system fails
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Technical Context
Use 'fail-safe' when discussing engineering, aviation, or technology to describe safety mechanisms.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Do not apply 'fail-safe' to non-technical situations, as it is a specialized term.
Word Origin
From the combination of 'fail' (to stop working) and 'safe' (secure), popularized in engineering and technology contexts.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in technical fields to describe systems designed to prevent catastrophic failure. Avoid using it for non-technical contexts.
Word Breakdown
fail
to stop working or malfunction
rootsafe
secure or protected from harm
rootEnglish Dictionary