jettison

verb jet·ti·son \ ˈje-tə-sən , -zən \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Editor's Note: The Origin of jettison

Definition of jettison

jettisoned; jettisoning; jettisons

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

—

jettisonable

play \ˈje-tə-sə-nə-bəl, -zə-\ adjective

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Examples of jettison in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of jettison from the Web

Key allies and others amplified their worries that jettisoning the accord would send the region down a more dangerous and uncertain path.

— james mcauley, Washington Post, "Backers of Iran nuclear deal wage last-ditch blitz seeking to sway Trump," 8 May 2018
Katie jettisons her celebration plans and tries to check Seth into a detox center, is turned away for insurance reasons, and seeks an alternative.

— glenn kenny, New York Times, "Comic Performers Play It Dark in Netflix Movies," 20 Apr. 2018
The temptation is strong in Washington to simply jettison the foundering alliance with Turkey - as was recently done with Pakistan - and even to impose sanctions on Ankara for its actions.

— chicagotribune.com, "US alliance with Turkey is worth preserving," 19 Mar. 2018
One way Gilbert and Altman can improve the Cavs for the present is to jettison point guard Isaiah Thomas.

— dennis manoloff, cleveland.com, "LeBron James provides 37-15-10 reminder of his value to Cavaliers: DMan video," 7 Feb. 2018
Less than 72 hours before the deadline for voter initiatives to get on the ballot in November, major national paint companies and the California Legislature remain far apart on a deal that could jettison an initiative sponsored by the companies.

— liam dillon, latimes.com, "Paint companies that want taxpayers to pay for lead cleanup still trying to strike deal with lawmakers," 26 June 2018
Microsoft recently underwent a major reorganization that jettisoned former Windows and Devices boss Terry Myerson, so these Xbox and Surface plans are likely up for reevaluation.

— brad chacos, PCWorld, "New leaks reveal the future of Xbox and Surface," 12 June 2018
Head coach Gareth Southgate has jettisoned many of the players involved in those calamities and England has some promising young stars—with Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.

— andrew beaton, WSJ, "World Cup 2018: A Guide to Every Team," 12 June 2018
To add insult to injury, Dwyane Wade and Jae Crowder, two players jettisoned in February, played really well during the playoffs.

— rohan nadkarni, SI.com, "Dissecting the Deadline Four: Did the Cavaliers Ever Have a Squad?," 17 May 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of jettison

see ²jettison

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1848

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

jettison Synonyms

Phrases

dispose of, set aside;

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

jettison

noun

Definition of jettison

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

Examples of jettison in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of jettison from the Web

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

The Origin of jettison

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.

Origin and Etymology of jettison

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year