# jeopardy

/ˈdʒɛpɝdi/ (US) · /dʒˈɛpədi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jeopardy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. danger or risk

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the danger of losing something, failing, or being harmed.

For teachers: the state of being at risk of loss, harm, or failure. Uncountable in general usage.

- The driver put the lives of his passengers in jeopardy by speeding through the rain.
- The sudden withdrawal of government subsidies has placed the entire research project in jeopardy, threatening years of data collection.

### 2. legal risk

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the risk of being found guilty in a court of law.

For teachers: the danger of conviction or punishment faced by a defendant on trial.

- The lawyer argued that the new evidence put his client in double jeopardy.
- The constitutional protection against double jeopardy ensures that a defendant cannot be tried twice for the same crime following an acquittal.

### 3. to endanger

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to put someone or something in a dangerous situation.

For teachers: to expose to loss or injury; to imperil. This transitive form is largely superseded by the modern verb 'jeopardize'.

- He would not jeopardy his soul for a few pieces of gold.
- The knight refused to jeopardy his honour by engaging in a deceptive plot against the crown.

Usage: In modern English, use 'jeopardize' instead of the verb form 'jeopardy'.

## Examples

- The bad weather put the whole mission in jeopardy.
- The company's future was in jeopardy after the main investor suddenly pulled out of the deal.
- The defendant's legal team argued that a second trial for the same offense would place their client in double jeopardy, violating a fundamental principle of the justice system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.