1.safeguard的基本意思是“保卫”,即保证安全(safe+guard 安全+防守),指使用某种方法避开危险或进攻以保证安全,尤指在仅存潜在性危险的情况下使用保护性措施。
2.safeguard只用作及物动词,接表示某人或某人的权利、利益等的名词或代词作宾语。作“保护…使免于…”解时,常与介词from或against连用。可用于被动结构。

safeguard against(v.+prep.)
〔说明〕 safeguard against常不用于进行体。
1.防止; 避免 take care to prevent or avoid (sth or doing sth harmful)
▲safeguard against sth/v-ing
Warm clothes help to safeguard against catching cold.穿得暖和有助于预防感冒。
If you are conscious of your own weaknesses of character, you have a better chance of safeguarding against them.如果你意识到自己性格上的弱点,就有可能预防这些弱点。
2.保护(某人)使免于 protect (sb) from (sth or doing sth harmful)
▲safeguard sb against sth/v-ing
Take this medicine regularly, it will safeguard you against a return of the disease.定期服用这种药,它能防止你旧病复发。

safeguard from(v.+prep.)
保护…使免于 protect (sth/sb) from (sth or doing sth harmful)
▲safeguard sb/sth from sth/v-ing
We have taken measures to safeguard our city from air attack.我们已采取措施保卫城市免遭空袭。
Saving money regularly during one's working years will help to safeguard one's age from want.工作期间定期储蓄将有助于保证晚年不受贫困之苦。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
Car manufacturers are looking for new ways to safeguard passengers.汽车制造商们正在寻求保障乘客安全的新方法。
Put a lock on your door to safeguard your property.请在门上装把锁以保护你的财产。
They were mostly concerned with safeguarding the interests of the medium and small-sized enterprises.他们最关心保护中小型企业的利益。
He jealously safeguards the honoured name and great position won in the past.他小心翼翼地保护着过去获得的荣誉和地位。
They drove the invaders out to safeguard their national independence and state sovereignty.他们把侵略者赶了出去以维护民族独立和国家主权。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Their political rights must be safeguarded.他们的政治利益必须得到保证。

safeguard, defend, guard, protect, shield
参见defend条。

safeguard 还可用作名词,意思是“保护；安全装置, 安全措施”。