noun
Uncommon
jeopardy
JEH-puh-dee
Jeopardy (noun) means a situation of serious risk of harm, failure, or loss. Example: “The team's playoff hopes are now in jeopardy after the loss.”
noun
1
A situation of serious risk of harm, failure, or loss.
"It seemed to me I could do something in that vein with my characters: the ticking clock, dire jeopardy, quick changes of fortune, small acts having huge consequences."
— Paul Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (2006)
"The team's playoff hopes are now in jeopardy after the loss."
"His reckless driving put everyone in the car in jeopardy."
"When Obinna was red carded shortly after for a ridiculous kick on Larsson it seemed as though West Ham's hopes of reaching Wembley, and in turn Grant's of keeping his job, lay in serious jeopardy."
— Jonathan Stevenson, West Ham 2 – 1 Birmingham (2011)
"The poor condition of the vehicle put its occupants in constant jeopardy."
How to use jeopardy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDanger — usually used in the fixed phrase "in jeopardy," meaning at risk.
Memory tip
Almost always follows "in": "in jeopardy," rarely used as a bare noun elsewhere.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
in jeopardy
put something in jeopardy
lives in jeopardy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like jeopardy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- jeopardies
- Third person singular
- jeopardies
- Past tense
- jeopardied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team's playoff hopes are now in _____ after the loss.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman giu parti, "a divided game" — originally a chess or gambling term for an even, uncertain contest, which by Middle English narrowed to mean simply "risk" or "danger."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for jeopardy
See all rhymes for jeopardy →Frequently asked questions
What does “jeopardy” mean?
The word “jeopardy” means a situation of serious risk of harm, failure, or loss. In plain terms, danger — usually used in the fixed phrase "in jeopardy," meaning at risk.
How do you pronounce “jeopardy”?
“Jeopardy” is pronounced JEH-puh-dee (/ˈd͡ʒɛpɚdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “jeopardy” in a sentence?
Here is “jeopardy” used in a sentence: “The team's playoff hopes are now in jeopardy after the loss.”
What part of speech is “jeopardy”?
“Jeopardy” is a noun.
Where does the word “jeopardy” come from?
The word “jeopardy” comes from Middle English. From Anglo-Norman giu parti, "a divided game" — originally a chess or gambling term for an even, uncertain contest, which by Middle English narrowed to mean simply "risk" or "danger.".
Is “jeopardy” a common word?
“Jeopardy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include jeopardy:
