jettison
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to cast (goods) overboard in order to lighten a vessel or aircraft or to improve its stability in an emergency.
-
to throw off (something) as an obstacle or burden; discard.
-
Cards. to discard (an unwanted card or cards).
noun
-
the act of casting goods from a vessel or aircraft to lighten or stabilize it.
verb
-
to throw away; abandon
to jettison old clothes
-
to throw overboard
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jettison
1375–1425; late Middle English jetteson < Anglo-French; Old French getaison ≪ Latin jactātiōn- (stem of jactātiō ) jactation
Explanation
Jettison means to push to the side or toss away. If a boat is leaking or an airplane is running out of fuel, you can buy more time by jettisoning cargo, or throwing it overboard. The word jettison — dating, in its nautical meaning, from the 15th century in English — is commonly used figuratively as well as literally. You can jettison a friendship or an attitude. During the month that the Winter Olympics are aired on TV, figure-skating fans across the country jettison homework and other responsibilities in order to watch.
Vocabulary lists containing jettison
This Week in Words: September 25 - October 1, 2017
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Hamilton
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
For one day a week, employees could jettison their suits and pantyhose and heels and wear… no one was quite sure at first, although Levi’s Dockers played a big role, at least for men.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025
High-profile announcements from companies over the past few years promising to jettison the bachelor’s degree as a hiring requirement largely haven’t resulted in action.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 25, 2025
Externally mandated changes allow organizations an opportunity to reevaluate and jettison initiatives that were merely check-the-box items but didn’t produce true impact.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2025
"He managed to change his voice and not jettison or sacrifice any of his Welshness. You hear the same thing in Anthony Hopkins," Mr Talfan said.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2025
These articles, he claimed, caused him to abandon the plan and to jettison all hope of ever succeeding at such a scheme in the future.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions 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.
