What does jettisoned mean?
Jettisoned describes something that has been thrown or deliberately discarded, especially cargo, equipment, or fuel from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle. The action is often necessary for safety, balance, or weight reduction: an aircraft may jettison fuel, or a ship may jettison equipment during an emergency. Figuratively, jettisoned means abandoned or rejected, often because something has become impractical, expensive, unpopular, or no longer useful. The word carries a strong sense of decisive disposal rather than ordinary tidying or gradual removal. In everyday discussion, a team or organisation may be said to have jettisoned a plan, product, or tradition, while jettisoned fuel and jettisoned cargo are familiar terms in aviation and maritime contexts.
verbJettisoned means discarded or thrown from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle, especially cargo, equipment, or other material. In figurative use, it means abandoned or rejected quickly, often because it is no longer useful or desirable.
- Thrown or discarded from a ship, aircraft, vehicle, or other conveyance, especially as a safety measure.
- Abandoned, rejected, or got rid of, especially because something is no longer useful, desirable, or sustainable.
"The aircraft jettisoned its remaining fuel before making the emergency landing."
"The crew jettisoned heavy equipment to keep the vessel stable during the storm."
"The company jettisoned the old design when customer research showed that it was unpopular."
From throwing cargo overboard to abandoning a project in a pinch, jettisoned captures the dramatic art of getting rid of something quickly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jettisoned come from?
The word comes through French jettison, meaning “the throwing of cargo overboard,” from jetter, “to throw.” The French verb ultimately derives from Latin jactare, a frequentative form associated with throwing or casting. Related English words include jet, projectile, trajectory, and abject, which reflect related forms of the ancient root associated with throwing or casting.
Related word forms
How jettisoned is actually used
Jettisoned is the past tense and past participle of jettison. It is formal and technical in transport contexts, while figurative uses are common in business, politics, and general discussion.
Easily confused with jettisoned
Jetison is a misspelling of jettison, the standard spelling of the word.