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

The Animal Welfare Institute has an online database of safe havens for pets of people experiencing domestic violence. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

All of these warnings reinforce what a slew of recent academic studies have documented, namely that the UK’s legacy media has become something of a safe haven for transphobic voices. — Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026

The European Central Bank and Brussels also fear that confiscating Russia’s reserves would damage the euro’s standing and Belgium’s reputation as a financial safe haven. — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

The principle was enshrined in the postwar refugee protection system after Jews and others fleeing Nazi persecution were refused safe haven during World War II. — Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for safe haven

• riboflavin
• craven
• flavin
• graven
• maven
• pavan
• raven
• shaven
• engraven
• unshaven