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

Did you know?

Geoffrey Chaucer employed the word jeopardy in his late 14th-century masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, 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 iuperti, yoberte, iepardye, ieoberye, and jobardy.

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

However, their reunion is put in jeopardy when a string of mysterious murders occur in Seattle as a means of revenge on Bella and the Cullen family. —Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023

As Dior rises to prominence with his groundbreaking, iconic imprint of beauty and influence, Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer is put into jeopardy. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Nov. 2023

And now her career, finances and identity are all in jeopardy. —Ryan Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023

Quite abruptly, Tierney was transferred to rackets, throwing his future into jeopardy. —Robert Kolker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023

Bucs in serious jeopardy of falling to 1-3 on the season. —Ben Thomas | [e-mail], al, 15 Sep. 2023

Puigdemont on Thursday did not specifically address whether the amnesty would apply to him but said it had been drafted in the broadest possible terms to include anyone facing legal jeopardy because of the independence movement. —Beatriz Ríos, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023

Rarely has an overseas presidential expedition been so uncertain even in its itinerary at the time of takeoff, and so freighted with jeopardy both political and physical. —Peter Baker, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2023

The news outlet is hyper-focused on Trump’s legal jeopardy, with a team of experts ready to dissect every ruling, every filing, every comment. —David Bauder, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2023

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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

• 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.