safety valve

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The notwithstanding clause was brought in as a safety valve.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

Dot plots and macro projections serve as a pressure safety valve where disagreement can be hashed out, without harming the consistency of the policy message.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

Banks have more regularly tapped a Fed lending facility designed as a safety valve that lets them exchange securities for reserves, offering another sign of reserves becoming less ample.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

Elon Musk thinks humankind’s only safety valve is to move multitudes to Mars.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2025

Others use an espresso pot, which uses steam to drive water up through the grounds: the pot is a pressurized steam system, which is why it requires a safety valve.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton