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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Did you know?

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

• danger
• distress
• endangerment
• harm's way
• imperilment
• peril
• risk
• trouble

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

Without progress toward stabilizing the insurance industry in California, housing for lower-income renters is in urgent jeopardy as well. —Nikki Beasley, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

The Current’s early perfect season, though, seemed to be in some jeopardy late in the game Saturday. —Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024

Yet, many of these landmark achievements now face potential jeopardy. —Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024

Unlike previous Championship campaigns the illusion of jeopardy for the ex-Premier League sides has been more absent than before. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024

Spotting a Scam: Red Flags and Warning Signs Identifying fraudulent crypto recovery services is crucial to safeguarding your digital assets from further jeopardy. —Maria Williams, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024

If the country already receives reliable security assistance from one great power, exploring a partnership with the other could throw the existing relationship into jeopardy. —Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Foreign Affairs, 15 Mar. 2024

Investigate The Legal Aspect One thing that must be looked at is potential legal jeopardy or liabilities that may exist within the company being acquired. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

He is currently tied with Brook Lopez for the most games with five or more three-pointers (nine) in Bucks history, putting Ray Allen’s record of 12 in definite jeopardy. —Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024

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.