Phrase guide

margin of safety

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The difference between the intrinsic value of a stock and its market price.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The strength of a business measured by the amount of income earned above the break-even point.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The difference between a therapeutic dose of a medication and a toxic dose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The ratio of the strength of a structure to the requirements placed on that structure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the margin required in order to insure safety

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • in engineering the margin of safety is the strength of the material minus the anticipated stress

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: safety margin, margin of error

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: margin, index

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.