jeopardy

noun

jeop·​ar·​dy ˈje-pər-dē 

1

: exposure to or imminence of loss or injury : danger

placing their lives in jeopardy

workers in jeopardy of losing their jobs

2

law : the danger that an accused person is subjected to when on trial for a criminal offense

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We'll start with the answer and you provide the question: A word meaning "danger" that inspired the title of a popular game show. Got it? If you buzzed in "what is jeopardy?" you are correct! Today’s word dates back to at least the 1300s, but its Middle English form can make it hard to spot: it appears in the phrase "in jupartie" with a meaning very much akin to the word's meaning in the modern phrase "in jeopardy"—that is, "in danger." The spellings of what we now render only as jeopardy were formerly myriad. The Oxford English Dictionary reports that between the late 14th and mid-17th centuries the word was spelled in a great variety of ways, among them ieupardyes (the spelling Chaucer used in The Canterbury Tales), iupertie, iupartye, ieoperdis, and juperti. Indeed, like the eponymous quiz show Jeopardy!, today’s word has a long history; we’d wager it has a long future, too.

Synonyms of jeopardy

• danger
• risk
• trouble
• peril

Examples of jeopardy in a Sentence

the city's firefighters routinely put their lives in jeopardy by executing daring rescues

Recent Examples on the Web

The future appears safe for Weatherford’s Tavern on the Lake after city officials decided against changes that some said could have put the bar in financial jeopardy. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026

To that end, this debacle has put Martin’s job in jeopardy – and rightly so – at a critical juncture. —Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 28 May 2026

Negotiations are expected to continue throughout the season, and if a deal isn’t reached by the start of December the widespread expectation is that MLB will lock out the players, potentially putting the start of the 2027 season in jeopardy. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026

After bouncing straight back up, Milan scored only once in the opening seven league games of the 1981-82 season and struggled for four months without Baresi, whose entire career fell into jeopardy. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English jeopardie, from Anglo-French juparti, jeuparti alternative, literally, divided game

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jeopardy

• double jeopardy
• in jeopardy

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Kids Definition

jeopardy

noun

jeop·​ar·​dy ˈjep-ərd-ē 

: danger sense 1

Legal Definition

jeopardy

noun

jeop·​ar·​dy ˈje-pər-dē 

1

: exposure to or imminence of death, loss, or injury

2

: the danger of conviction that an accused person is subjected to when on trial for a criminal offense see also double jeopardy

Note: Jeopardy attaches, or comes into effect for double jeopardy purposes, when a jury is sworn in or, in a non-jury trial, when the judge begins to hear evidence. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbids double jeopardy for the same offense, and this applies whether the first trial ends in acquittal, conviction, or a mistrial. If a mistrial occurs due to a manifest necessity or if a defendant appeals a conviction, however, the rule against double jeopardy does not apply. The issue of manifest necessity is determined by the trial judge and, if necessary, by an appeals court.