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.

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jeopardize British  

/ ˈdʒɛpəˌdaɪz /

verb

1. to risk; hazard

   he jeopardized his job by being persistently unpunctual

2. to put in danger; imperil

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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

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Etymology

Origin of jeopardize

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

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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

The 32-year-old feared it might jeopardize her chances.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Angel City sporting director Mark Parsons is taking his time searching for a new coach in a strategy that could jeopardize the team’s playoff chances.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

In that case, Kelley worried, even his “Take Me Instead” letter — in which he asked his senator to arrange for him to trade places with Jackson — might jeopardize his son’s naval career.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

You don’t want to blow the whistle on this VP because you believe that will jeopardize your investment.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

And they have the laws and the means to enforce their views....I am sure that their attitude is indefensible, but I do not wish to jeopardize my liberty in proving that it is.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Apple and Google executives told Canadian lawmakers the bill jeopardizes privacy and digital security, potentially compelling product changes for surveillance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

It also jeopardizes global crop yields—gas is a vital fertilizer feedstock—and could cripple semiconductor production by slashing helium supply, a natural gas byproduct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026

“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

“We’ve seen serious criminal charges dropped and entire cases jeopardized because victims and witnesses are too scared to come to the courthouse to testify,” Bonta said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

But by fleeing he has jeopardized his right to appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

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

"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

Had Harrison felt that I had in some way jeopardized his job?

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

But so many back-to-back ignitions are jeopardizing the ecosystem’s long-term viability.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

The banking industry’s advocates argued that arrangements like Coinbase’s could lead to a massive deposit flight, jeopardizing their ability to lend and keep the economy humming.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

“That meant the plan had to support a front-loaded retirement lifestyle without jeopardizing the younger spouse’s long-term security,” said Huey.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

Local politicians are scrambling to calm the backlash from residents—without jeopardizing the revenue that is the lifeblood of the economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

Unselfishly jeopardizing her professional reputation as a teacher, Aunt Anne always allowed each of us to play in the annual recitals at her music school.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

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Related Words

• imperil
• threaten

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