safe haven

noun

plural safe havens
1
: a place of safety or refuge
In 1985, the City Council passed a resolution proclaiming the city a safe haven for refugees and prohibiting city employees from asking about individuals' immigration status.Mathew Miranda
Over three decades, the sanctuary has become a symbol of hope, working to end the drivers of illegal wildlife trade while providing a safe haven for hundreds of great apes.Business Wire
2
: an investment that is expected to retain or increase its value during times of economic downturn or market volatility
Investors seek out safe havens in order to limit their exposure to losses in the event of market downturns. However, assets that are deemed safe havens can vary depending on the specific nature of the down market.James Chen
usually hyphenated when used before another noun
safe-haven assets

Examples of safe haven in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As an investment, bonds can be a safe haven during times of uncertainty. Allie Canal, NBC news, 20 May 2026 Gold's role as a safe haven is real, but it's also priced in quickly. Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 The Criminal Division will not allow foreign actors to exploit the American financial system and use it as a safe haven for the proceeds of their corruption. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 This year, their focus is on reducing wildfire risks and creating safe havens from smoky air for the reservation's 33,000 residents. Brittney Melton, NPR, 18 May 2026 Gold is a more reliable safe haven during economic panic. Sharon Wu, USA Today, 14 May 2026 The route goes through about eight towns, ending at GenerateHope’s safe haven, Carole’s Cottage. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 There were 1,519 living in either emergency shelters, transitional housing or safe havens, which is a shelter for veterans. Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026 During the Second World War, the Attenboroughs took in two Jewish sisters, who had come to Britain on the Kindertransport—the humanitarian scheme, devised after Kristallnacht, in 1938, for sending Jewish children, unaccompanied, to a safe haven. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of safe haven was in 1668

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Cite this Entry

“Safe haven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safe%20haven. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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