jeopardize

verb

jeop·​ar·​dize ˈje-pər-ˌdīz How to pronounce jeopardize (audio)
jeopardized; jeopardizing

transitive verb

: to expose to danger or risk : imperil
a decision that could jeopardize her career
laws jeopardizing freedom of speech

Did you know?

Jeopardize Has a Controversial History

It may be hard to believe that jeopardize was once controversial, but in 1870 a grammarian called it "a foolish and intolerable word," a view shared by many 19th-century critics. The preferred word was jeopard, which first appeared in print in the 14th century. (The upstart jeopardize didn't arrive until the late 16th century.) In 1828, Noah Webster himself declared jeopardize to be "a modern word, used by respectable writers in America, but synonymous with jeopard, and therefore useless." Unfortunately for the champions of jeopard, jeopardize is now much more popular.

Examples of jeopardize in a Sentence

His health has been jeopardized by poor nutrition. don't do anything that will jeopardize your place on the advisory board
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The play is a social drama about the female minister of a Black church in Harlem whose standing in the community is jeopardized when her estranged husband, a jazz musician, turns up again needing her help. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2025 In a letter, Warren warned that interference with these systems could jeopardize trillions in transactions, Social Security payments, tax refunds, and Medicare benefits. Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025 Arizona receives about $645 million in National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding per year, money that could be jeopardized by President Trump's two-week freeze of federal grant funding. Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025 An asthma diagnosis jeopardized her athletic career; and her mother died unexpectedly. Kizzy Cox, Essence, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for jeopardize 

Word History

Etymology

see jeopardy

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jeopardize was in 1582

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near jeopardize

Cite this Entry

“Jeopardize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jeopardize. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

jeopardize

verb
jeop·​ar·​dize ˈjep-ər-ˌdīz How to pronounce jeopardize (audio)
jeopardized; jeopardizing
: to expose to danger

More from Merriam-Webster on jeopardize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!