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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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.
And firm names with a long list of partners are increasingly endangered; one or two names are in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
There are estimated to be only around 500 of the endangered subspecies left in the wild.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
The purpose-built two-acre reserve is home to Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
The famed railroad line along the San Clemente coast has found itself on the endangered list amid a relentless assault from rising seas and punishing surf.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
“Don’t mention those names on the air. I’d be afraid their lives would be endangered, and they were my friends.”
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
