Phrase guide

safety car

noun · 1 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

A vehicle employed to lead the competitors in an auto race for the duration of a few laps, with the intention of restricting their speed while a hazard exists on the circuit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, motor-racing, racing, sports

Examples

  • After a car crashed, the safety car was sent out to lead the remaining drivers safely past the site of the accident.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: turva-auto — car to restrict speed in car race
  • French: voiture de sécurité — car to restrict speed in car race
  • German: Safety-Car — car to restrict speed in car race
  • German: Pacecar — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: safety car — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: pace car — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: auto di sicurezza — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: automobile di sicurezza — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: autovettura di sicurezza — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: vettura di sicurezza — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: macchina di sicurezza — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Italian: sicurauto — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Spanish: coche de seguridad — car to restrict speed in car race
  • Spanish: auto de seguridad — car to restrict speed in car race