What does jeoparding mean?
Jeoparding means putting a person, thing, or outcome in danger. It is the present participle of jeopardize and is used when an action or circumstance threatens the safety, integrity, success, or continuation of something. For example, poor maintenance can jeoparding lives, while a technical error may jeoparding an entire project. The word has a formal and often serious tone, implying a substantial risk rather than a trivial inconvenience. It appears in political reporting, legal and business contexts, and descriptions of safety, environmental, and operational hazards. Although especially common in British and American English, it is less frequent than the verb forms jeopardize and jeopardizing. Jeoparding is also often used metaphorically for threatening an agreement, reputation, opportunity, or chance of success. The related noun jeopardy refers to the danger itself, not the act of creating that danger.
verbTo put something or someone at risk of harm, loss, or failure; to endanger.
- To put a person, thing, opportunity, or outcome at risk of harm, loss, damage, or failure.
"The new regulations could jeopardize the safety of workers exposed to the chemicals."
"The storm threatened to jeopardize the rescue operation."
"A single careless remark could have jeopardized years of careful negotiation."
The word ultimately evokes a divided game of chance, but modern usage is anything but harmless: to jeoparding something is to put its survival or success at stake.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jeoparding come from?
The word comes through Middle English from Old French jeu parti, meaning “a divided game,” referring to a game in which the outcome depended on chance or divided stakes. The development of jeu to jeopardy was influenced by Anglo-French forms, and the modern sense of danger or risk became established over time. The related verb jeopardize was formed in the early 19th century from the noun, with the suffix -ize contributing the sense of putting into jeopardy. Jeopard and jeopardous are likewise related forms.
Related word forms
How jeoparding is actually used
This form is most often encountered as the present participle of jeopardize, especially in formal or literary prose. British English commonly uses the spelling jeopardise and its inflections, while American English uses jeopardize and jeopardizing. As a standalone verb, jeoparding is less common than the full verb forms.
Easily confused with jeoparding
Jeopardy is danger or the possibility of harm, whereas jeoparding is the act of putting someone or something in danger.