jettison

verb

jet·ti·son | \ˈje-tə-sən,

-zən\

jettisoned; jettisoning; jettisons

Definition of jettison

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to get rid of as superfluous or encumbering : omit or forgo as part of a plan or as the result of some other decision must be prepared to jettison many romantic notions— Christopher Catling

2 : to drop (cargo) to lighten a ship's load in time of distress

3 : to drop from an aircraft or spacecraft in flight

jettison

noun

Definition of jettison (Entry 2 of 2)

: a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress

Other Words from jettison Synonyms The Origin of Jettison More Example Sentences Learn More about jettison

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The Origin of Jettison

Noun

Jettison comes from the Anglo-French noun geteson, meaning "action of throwing," and is ultimately from the Latin verb jactare, meaning "to throw." The noun jettison ("a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress") entered English in the 15th century; the verb has been with us since the 19th century. The noun is also the source of the word jetsam ("jettisoned goods"), which is often paired with flotsam ("floating wreckage"). These days you don't have to be on a sinking ship to jettison something. In addition to literally "throwing overboard," jettison means simply "to get rid of." You might jettison some old magazines that are cluttering your house, or you might make a plan but jettison it at the last minute.

Examples of jettison in a Sentence

Verb

The captain gave orders to jettison the cargo. They jettisoned the fuel and made an emergency landing. We should jettison these old computers and get new ones. They jettisoned plans for a vacation.

Noun

with his ship rapidly sinking, the captain ordered a last-ditch jettison of much of its cargo

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

It was finally jettisoned in early 2018, but the damage to trust has been massive and will take years to repair. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Mark Zuckerberg became a wartime CEO," 20 Nov. 2018 Placeholder furniture that had kicked around for decades was finally jettisoned, replaced with alternatives that blended practicality with poetry. — Sara Ruffin Costello, ELLE Decor, "A New Orleans Manse is Given New Life with a Fashionable Pizzazz," 26 Oct. 2018 The research could also help explain how Uranus’ rings and moons formed, as the impact could have jettisoned rock and ice into orbit around the planet. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "'Cataclysmic' collision turned Uranus on its side 4 billion years ago," 3 July 2018 After all, a bankruptcy means an applicant has usually jettisoned most personal debt and now has a lighter load. — Russ Wiles, azcentral, "5 important tips for buying a rental property," 20 May 2018 Coming up, one city in California has voted to jettison its state's sanctuary policy. — Fox News, "Ingraham: Washington's real March Madness," 21 Mar. 2018 Instead of jettisoning their waste into space, astronauts could have the option to recycle their waste into a spread of edible goo rich with proteins and fats, researchers said. — Fernando Ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Groundbreaking research may allow astronaut poo to become edible 'goo'," 5 Feb. 2018 Regulators later removed the SIFI label from GE Capital and AIG, but only after the companies shrank and jettisoned risky businesses. — Ryan Tracy, WSJ, "Risk of Bank-Like Regulation Fades for Big Financial Firms," 17 Oct. 2018 During launch, this area is shrouded by a protective fairing, which is jettisoned once in space. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "The Orion spacecraft may carry more than NASA missions to the Moon," 4 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The best thing the Lakers could do for themselves, and LeBron James, is jettison Lonzo Ball and his deadweight daddy, and go looking for a healthy, mature partner for James. — Sally Jenkins, chicagotribune.com, "Welcome to L.A., LeBron James. See yourself out, LaVar Ball.," 2 July 2018 Bryant gets a fresh start with a brand new locker room, while the Steelers jettison a player who trashed a fellow wide receiver on Twitter in October and was reportedly seeking a trade in midseason. — Robert Klemko, SI.com, "Draft Notes: For Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, the Wait Was Worth It," 27 Apr. 2018 During this process, sea lampreys jettison about 20 percent of their genome during embryonic development. — Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, "Odd vertebrate gets rid of hundreds of genes early in development," 28 Jan. 2018 Suddenly, from the far reaches of my mind, the legal jargon jettisons to the surface. — Whitney Ellenby, Washington Post, "Bystanders were horrified. But my son has autism, and I was desperate.," 27 Feb. 2018 The measure slashes corporate and individual income tax rates and jettisons numerous tax breaks Americans and businesses have used for years to limit their costs, my colleagues Damian Paletta and Mike DeBonis report. — Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post, "The Health 202: If the GOP really wanted to repeal key parts of Obamacare, they could use their tax plan to do it," 3 Nov. 2017 The Parallax View incorporates this tendency but jettisons whatever was specifically political about it. — Art Simon, Slate Magazine, "In The Parallax View, Conspiracy Goes All the Way to the Top—and Beyond," 21 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jettison.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for jettison

Verb

see jettison entry 2

Noun

Middle English jetteson, from Anglo-French geteson, literally, action of throwing, from Latin jactation-, jactatio, from jactare — more at jet

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