endangered
Americanadjective
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threatened with a danger.
endangered lives of trapped coal miners.
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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.
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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.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of endangered
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Explanation
An animal that is endangered is close to extinction — meaning there aren't very many of that type of animal left in the world. This word is used mostly to describe animal species that are not doing very well: animals usually become endangered because of over hunting or the destruction of their habitat. Environmental groups and animal-lovers try to help endangered species survive. Outside of the animal kingdom, you can say anything that seems to be dying out is endangered, like good manners, phone booths, or the art of letter writing.
Vocabulary lists containing endangered
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Africa - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His principal legislative interest has been to delist the gray wolf as a federal endangered species.
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026
In “Lifelines,” this pertains to biodiversity as well as human languages and kinds of knowledge, such as indigenous heritage, that are also endangered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The Hemi V-8 began to look like an endangered species.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
But a Cal Fire firefighter stepped in on Tuesday, escorting a staff member to the property so she could release the critically endangered birds back into the wild.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Completely unarmed, the Florentines engaged ten thousand French soldiers to take Pisa: such a plan endangered them more than any of their previous predicaments.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
