endangered

American  

[en-deyn-jerd] / ɛnˈdeɪn dʒərd /

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.

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endangered British  

/ ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd /

adjective

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

   the giant panda is an endangered species

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Other Word Forms

• unendangered adjective

Etymology

Origin of endangered

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

Compare meaning

How does endangered compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• endangered vs. threatened species

Example Sentences

Sazan and its surrounding waters "provide crucial habitats for some of the world's most endangered marine species", it added.

From Barron's

Beijing has criticized those plans, saying Chinese telecommunications equipment has never endangered security and that its exclusion would cause economic harm to both sides.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Some animals managed to adapt, like the coyote and the endangered mountain lion,” Bettison-Varga said.

From The Wall Street Journal

That puts places like Okomu, a tropical forest in the country's southwest -- and the endangered buffalo, forest elephants and white-bellied pangolins that live in it -- increasingly at risk.

From Barron's

There are plenty of Europeans who would like a bit more protectionism for endangered industries as the threats from China grow.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• threatened