safes

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'safes' is a valid and usable word in written English.
It is the plural form of the noun 'safe', which means a secure lockable container used for storing valuable items or documents. You can use the word 'safes' in the following ways: 1. As a plural noun: "The museum houses a collection of antique safes from the 18th century." Here, 'safes' refers to multiple secure containers used for storing valuable items. 2. As an adjective: "The bank hired a team of experts to design safes that are resistant to modern hacking techniques." Here, 'safes' is describing the type of containers being designed. 3. As a verb: "I safed my important documents in a fireproof safe before leaving for vacation." Here, 'safed' is the past tense of the verb 'to safe', meaning to store something in a safe. Overall, 'safes' is a useful word to describe a type of container used for securing valuable items or documents.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 2013, an eastern Idaho school district approved installing gun safes in its high schools and middle schools in order for school resource officers to have easy access to rifles if needed – the same year the Idaho School Board Association rejected a plan to set up gun training for education staff and teachers.

The Guardian

I need computer science, too, because sometimes the safes have electronic locks.

The Guardian - Tech

The exhibition is being staged in partnership with the Qatar Museums Authority, and exhibits are being shown in genuine safes from 1850-1910, highlightheg the out-of-reach nature of pearls for most mortals.

The Guardian - Arts

Domestic applications, such as biometric front-door locks, garage doors and safes, are also available.

The Economist

For all the money, corruption is less naked than it once was: Mr Bennett is proud that Senate offices are no longer designed with safes into which venal politicians used casually to stuff their visitors' personal cash contributions.

The Economist

They were there, but the hotel part of a big chain doesn't offer safes in the room, so I had nowhere to lock them up.

The Economist

People do not put safes into their basements but open bank accounts.

The Economist

Once the banking system began to look frail, there was a boom in the sale of safes for people to keep their cash at home.

The Economist

According to an independent report commissioned by a bankruptcy judge, at one point priests in San Diego were taking cash out of accounts and putting it in safes in the rectories because they wanted to keep it out of reach of plaintiffs.

The Economist

"Because they are so pretty people are putting them in their front rooms," says Brandon Payne of Liberty Safe, a safemaker.The company sells 500 safes a day, most of them big ones and mostly to people with lots of guns: its Fatboy model can hold 64 long guns and a clutch of pistols.

The Economist

Resourceful crews, using a jack, a pushcart and a truck, are making away with huge safes, weighing as much as several hundred kilograms.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about security measures, specify the type of "safes" to provide clarity (e.g., gun safes, hotel safes, digital safes).

Common error

Avoid using "safes" interchangeably with similar but distinct terms like "vaults" or "lockboxes". "Safes" typically refer to smaller, standalone units, while vaults are often built-in and larger.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "safes" is as a plural noun. It denotes multiple secure containers used for storing valuable items. As evidenced by Ludwig, "safes" frequently appear in sentences describing physical security measures and storage solutions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "safes", as confirmed by Ludwig AI, is the plural form of "safe" and functions primarily as a noun. It commonly refers to multiple secure containers used for storing valuables. Its usage is very common across various contexts, especially in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. Ludwig's examples showcase contexts ranging from gun ownership and hotel security to historical anecdotes and digital storage. When using "safes", clarity is key, and specifying the type of safe is a best practice. Related terms include "strongboxes" and "vaults", each carrying slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strongboxes

Refers to secure containers, emphasizing their robust construction.

vaults

Implies larger, more secure storage spaces, often built into a building.

security boxes

Highlights the function of providing security for stored items.

lockboxes

Emphasizes the locking mechanism for secure storage.

deposit boxes

Specifically refers to boxes used for depositing valuables, often in banks.

secure storage units

A more general term for places where items are securely stored.

armored containers

Highlights the protective, armored nature of the containers.

cash boxes

Specifically refers to boxes used for storing cash.

strong rooms

Similar to vaults, but may refer to any room designed for security.

secure repositories

A more formal term for secure storage locations.

FAQs

How are "safes" used in sentences?

"Safes" are used as plural nouns to refer to multiple secure containers. For example, "The bank has several "safes" for storing valuables."

What are some alternatives to using the word "safes"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "strongboxes", "vaults", or "security boxes".

What is the difference between "safes" and "vaults"?

"Safes" are typically smaller, standalone units designed for secure storage. "Vaults", on the other hand, are usually larger, built-in structures within a building.

Can "safes" be used in a figurative sense?

While primarily used to refer to physical containers, "safes" can be used metaphorically to describe secure digital storage or protected information. For example, "digital "safes"" for passwords.