Unsafe means not protected from danger or harm. When something is unsafe, it creates a risk of getting hurt or damaged. A rickety old ladder might be unsafe to climb because it could break. A website asking for your password might be unsafe because it could steal your information.

The word describes both physical dangers and other kinds of risks. A bicycle without working brakes is physically unsafe. But sharing personal information with strangers online is also unsafe, even though the danger isn't something you can see or touch. Scientists might say an old bridge is structurally unsafe, meaning it could collapse. Parents might call a neighborhood unsafe if there's a lot of crime there.

Something unsafe means there's a real possibility of harm. A horror movie might be frightening but perfectly safe to watch, with no actual danger. When teachers practice fire drills, they're teaching students how to stay safe and avoid unsafe situations during an actual emergency.

The opposite of unsafe is safe. Engineers design cars with safety features to make them safer. Construction workers wear hard hats to protect themselves in unsafe conditions. Recognizing when something is unsafe helps you make smart decisions about risk.