What does jeopard mean?
Jeopard is a somewhat archaic verb meaning to put a person, institution, plan, or outcome in danger. A decision or action jeopardizes something when it exposes it to possible harm, failure, or loss; for example, leaking confidential information may jeopardize an investigation or national security. The word has a formal tone and is closely associated with jeopardy, a noun denoting danger or the likelihood of harm or defeat. Although jeopardy remains common, the standard modern verb forms are jeopardize in American English and jeopardise in British English. Jeopard is principally encountered in older writing, formal records, and historical texts, but recognizing it helps reveal the connection between the verb “to put at risk” and the noun “danger.”
verbTo put something at risk of loss, harm, or destruction; to endanger.
- To put a person, thing, plan, or outcome at risk of harm, loss, or failure.
"No one should jeopard national security for political gain."
"The new disclosure could jeopard the investigation."
"By refusing to cooperate, he jeopard his chance of avoiding a lengthy trial."
Jeopard once shared its root with jeopardy: while a person faced jeopardy, a careless action could jeopard the whole undertaking.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jeopard come from?
Jeopard is an archaic variant of jeopardize, formed by back-formation from the older noun jeopardy. Jeopardy comes through Old French jeu parti, originally a term for a game whose outcome depended on how play was divided, and ultimately from Latin jocus partitus, meaning “a divided game.” The modern sense of jeopardy, “danger or peril,” developed during the 17th century, and the verb meaning “to endanger” followed from it.
Related word forms
How jeopard is actually used
Jeopard is an archaic spelling of jeopardize and is now rarely used in contemporary English. The standard modern spellings are jeopardize in American English and jeopardise in British English.
Easily confused with jeopard
Jeopard is a verb meaning to endanger, whereas jeopardy is a noun meaning danger or the likelihood of being harmed or defeated.