jeopardize

American  

[jep-er-dahyz] / ˈdʒɛp ərˌdaɪz /

especially British, jeopardise

verb (used with object)

• jeopardizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• jeopardized,
  past participle,  past
• jeopardizing
  present participle

1. to put in jeopardy; hazard; risk; imperil.

   He jeopardized his life every time he dived from the tower.

---

jeopardize British  

/ ˈdʒɛpəˌdaɪz /

verb

1. to risk; hazard

   he jeopardized his job by being persistently unpunctual

2. to put in danger; imperil

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rejeopardize
  verb (used with object)
• unjeopardized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• jeopardizing
  present
• jeopardized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• jeopardize
  simple
• jeopardizes
  simple
• have jeopardized
  perfect
• has jeopardized
  perfect
• am jeopardizing
  progressive
• are jeopardizing
  progressive
• is jeopardizing
  progressive
• have been jeopardizing
  perfect progressive
• has been jeopardizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• jeopardized
  simple
• had jeopardized
  perfect
• was jeopardizing
  progressive
• were jeopardizing
  progressive
• had been jeopardizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will jeopardize
  simple
• will have jeopardized
  perfect
• will be jeopardizing
  progressive
• will have been jeopardizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of jeopardize

First recorded in 1640–50; jeopard(y) + -ize

Explanation

Jeopardize means to put at risk or pose a threat. Jeopardize your career by posting silly pictures of yourself on Facebook. Jeopardize your friendships by posting silly pictures of your friends on Facebook. Jeopardize stems from the Old French jeu parti, which literally translates to a game with divided, or even, chances. An even chance of winning hardly seems a risky endeavor, but maybe our forefathers weren't big risk-takers. Whatever the reason, jeopardize has come to mean the act of putting yourself or something at risk, through circumstance or behavior. Think of double-jeopardy on the gameshow "Jeopardy" and you'll better understand what it means to jeopardize your savings.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jeopardize jeopardizes jeopardized jeopardizing

A yen recovery will require an aggressive hiking cycle, but the central bank is unlikely to jeopardize growth in such a manner, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

“This has more red flags than a May Day parade,” an industry insider said, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize his professional relationships.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

The pipeline and oil fields themselves are undamaged, but a prolonged cut to production would jeopardize the company’s substantial cash flow from the region.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Higher rates can trigger default waves that might jeopardize more lenders.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026

It’s a soft job for him, running little errands, doing little favors, and there’s no way he’d want to jeopardize it.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

“We are prepared to intervene in the foreign-exchange market to counter a rapid and excessive appreciation of the Swiss franc, which jeopardizes price stability in Switzerland,” the bank said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

It also jeopardizes the $1.8 billion in federal funding California has received to expand high-speed internet throughout the state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025

“These are our anchors. This is our cultural heritage. Eliminating this funding jeopardizes the ability of communities to preserve their history,” Stein said.

From Slate ● Apr. 10, 2025

Any lapse or reduction in federal funding for HIV programming jeopardizes our progress in addressing HIV, and transfers the burden of HIV prevention, care and treatment to overwhelmed state governments.

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2025

We ought never excuse violence or tolerate behavior that jeopardizes the safety and security of others.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

The government injected billions into banks, insurance giant AIG and the automobile industry to prevent the collapse of individual companies that would have jeopardized the economy and the financial system writ large if they failed.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

Crowley, her attorneys say, revealed to the public that “budget cuts had weakened the department’s readiness and jeopardized public and firefighter safety.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

"Do not approach the Strait of Hormuz; otherwise, your security will be jeopardized," Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

S. relations and jeopardized Adani’s investment in the U.S., and that they exceeded the reach of U.S. laws, according to records reviewed by the Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

Needless to say, the results of all this work are now jeopardized as the enemies of the corn borer are killed off by the sprays.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

But with water costs rising and climate change jeopardizing these distant sources, there is growing interest in finding ways to get more water locally.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2026

Iran threatened to reimpose a blockade on Wednesday, jeopardizing 20% of global oil and LNG shipments and economic recovery.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

The committee’s authority is limited to very uncommon circumstances in which there are no “reasonable and prudent alternatives” that would avoid jeopardizing a listed species or impair a species’ critical habitat.

From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2026

Woods required immediate surgery for injuries to his legs, jeopardizing any chance he had of playing more meaningful golf.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026

His older sister’s wedding isn’t until Friday, so at least I’m not jeopardizing his attendance there.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Related Words

• imperil
• threaten