What does jeopardy mean?
Jeopardy denotes danger, especially a danger involving the possible loss of something valuable. As a noun, it commonly appears in the expression “in jeopardy,” meaning at risk of harm, destruction, or failure: negotiations were in jeopardy after the sudden resignation. As a verb, “jeopardize” or “jeopardise” means to put a person, institution, plan, or achievement at risk. The word often conveys a serious and consequential threat rather than a minor inconvenience, making it especially useful in political, legal, environmental, and business reporting. Its history also gives it a memorable origin: it developed from an Old French expression associated with a game of chance, a “divided game,” before acquiring its modern sense of danger and risk. Today it remains a formal but widely understood term for situations in which an important outcome hangs in the balance.
Danger or the possibility of being harmed, lost, or damaged; a serious risk.
"The missing evidence put the case in jeopardy."
The phrase “in jeopardy” is especially common. The noun is normally used in a formal or serious context.
To put someone or something in danger of loss, harm, or destruction.
"The new policy could jeopardize years of progress in medical research."
The US spelling is “jeopardize”; the British spelling is “jeopardise.” The verb is formal and often implies a serious or consequential risk.
The plural is standard but relatively uncommon; “in jeopardy” is usually preferable in ordinary usage.
"Potential jeopardies include flooding, supply shortages, and a sudden loss of funding."
Jeopardy began with a game of chance: its name comes from an Old French phrase meaning a divided game, long before it became our word for danger.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jeopardy come from?
Jeopardy entered English in the early modern period from the Old French phrase jeu parti, meaning a divided game or a game governed by chance. The phrase combined jeu, “game,” with parti, “divided,” and was used in contexts such as chess and games of hazard. Its meaning developed from the general idea of an uncertain or risky outcome to the modern sense of danger or exposure to harm. The element represented by parti ultimately belongs to the Latin root part-, which also underlies words such as part, partial, partition, and participate.
Related word forms
How jeopardy is actually used
The noun and verb are formal in tone and are especially common in journalism, public affairs, and legal or business contexts. “Jeopardize” is the standard US spelling, while “jeopardise” is common in British English.
Easily confused with jeopardy
Jeopardy is a noun meaning danger or risk, while jeopardize is a verb meaning to put something in danger or expose it to loss.