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.

---

endangered British  

/ 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

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

A pair of twin mountain gorillas has been born in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - a rare occurrence for the endangered primates, conservationists at Virunga National Park say.

From BBC

Previously found across the United States, they are now extinct or endangered in the east, with the western states forming their stronghold.

From Barron's

The tour boat takes bird watchers from Cape Town to see endangered seabirds, including albatrosses, that are hard to find on the mainland.

From BBC

"This is a lot for a critically endangered population," he said.

From BBC

Department of Water and Power crews bulldozed hundreds of federally endangered plants in Topanga State Park.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• threatened