jeopardize

American  

[jep-er-dahyz] / ˈdʒɛp ərˌdaɪz /

especially British, jeopardise

verb (used with object)

jeopardized, jeopardizing

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

• rejeopardize verb (used with object)
• unjeopardized adjective

Etymology

Origin of jeopardize

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

Example Sentences

The third meeting of the committee was in the 1990s, when it considered exempting from the Endangered Species Act multiple timber sales in Oregon and Washington that would likely jeopardize the northern spotted owl.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

I know you want to inherit the house, but you can’t jeopardize your own savings to keep it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

In his message on Sunday, Trump also referred to another operation inside Iran to rescue "another brave pilot ... which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation."

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Stephen Ubl, president of the drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said: “Tariffs on cutting-edge medicines will increase costs and could jeopardize billions in U.S. investments announced in the last year.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

I asked, controlling my temper, careful not to do or say anything that would jeopardize the Negroes’ position in the area.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

Related Words

• imperil
• threaten