endangered

[en-deyn-jerd]

adjective

1. threatened with a danger.

   endangered lives of trapped coal miners.

2. Biology, Ecology.,  generally perceived as threatened with extinction.

   In 1967, the U.S. government declared the bald eagle endangered, but the national bird’s population recovery since then has been remarkable.

3. Biology, Ecology.,  (of a threatened plant or animal species) having a very high risk of extinction, second only to the status of critically endangered, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: EN

   There are more than 3,600 endangered plant species throughout the world.

endangered

/ ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd /

adjective

1. in danger: used esp of animals in danger of extinction

   the giant panda is an endangered species

Other Word Forms

• unendangered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of endangered¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; endanger + -ed ²

Example Sentences

A promising career is endangered not because of any campus matter but simply because of an out-of-nowhere use of a fraudulent prescription.

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Except for Ukraine and Taiwan, no country is more endangered by the world’s growing disorder.

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As in Brazil, it’s a nakedly political effort to fling a life preserver to an endangered right-wing ally.

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Last season, almost 90% of the animals caught in NSW's nets were not target species – including 11 critically endangered, and largely docile, grey nurse sharks.

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Prof Steinbach added: "We think this is a significant step forward, and not necessarily only for the elephants, but because it also shows that you can design and apply vaccines to help endangered species."

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Related Words

• threatened www.thesaurus.com